318 The Leather Plater. 



a candle to her on the score of good looks. A thought at once 

 struck her that it would be capital fun to have such employment 

 for a short time. She made up her mind at once,, and asked if she 

 could speak to the station-master. She was shown into a small 

 room at the bottom of the station. The station-master, quite sur- 

 prised at seeing such a visitor enter his little room, rose to salute 

 her with an obeisance such as he might have used towards Majesty 

 itself, but he was still more surprised when he heard upon what 

 errand she had come. He was just then in want of a hand, one 

 of his syrens having left him the day before, and he had not yet 

 been able to supply her place. He would have eagerly jumped at 

 Annie's offer, for such a girl behind his counter would be a treasure 

 to him. But he was a cautious, shrewd old fellow, and of course 

 must learn who and what Annie was, and what she had been. 

 Annie directly gave him a reference to the lady whom she had just 

 left. The station-master knew her well j and it was agreed that 

 Annie should remain at the station till replies were received to the 

 two notes which they wrote her that night. 



The next post brought satisfactory answers. The lady wrote 

 most kindly to Annie, said she was very sorry to part with her j 

 reprobated her nephew's conduct severely, considered that Annie's 

 conduct was just what it should have been, enclosed her a cheque 

 for a whole year's salary, and wound up by telling her that if she 

 wanted a situation again she knew where to apply. 



Annie was at once installed behind the counter, and was unani- 

 mously voted queen of the bevy of beauties that served there. 

 The first basin of soup she was asked for was by her late admirer, 

 who pushed his way to the bar to have a " chaff," as he expressed 

 it, with the girls. He had little idea that it was Annie who would 

 serve him, but he recognised her at once ; and when she demurely 

 asked him "how he would have it?" he was fairly nonplussed, and 

 throwing a shilling down upon the counter, turned away without 

 tasting the soup. 



Now it so happened that about eight miles down the line was 

 Beechwood Hall, where resided an old Sir Somebody Something, a 



