Anna the Adventuress

Anna, notwithstanding her quiet clothes, a figure marvellously out of

accord with her surroundings, sat before a small marble-topped table

at a crowded A.B.C., and munched a roll and butter with hearty

appetite.

"If only I could afford another!" she thought regretfully. "I wonder

why I am always hungry nowadays. It is so ridiculous."

She lingered over her tea, and glancing around, a sudden reflection on

the change in her surroundings from the scene of her last night's

supper brought a faint, humorous smile to her lips.

"In two days," she reflected, "Mrs. White will present her bill. I

have one shilling and sevenpence halfpenny left. I have two days in

which to earn nearly thirty shillings--that is with no dinners, and

get a situation. I fancy that this is a little more than playing at

Bohemianism."

"So far," she continued, eyeing hungrily the last morsel of roll which

lay upon her plate, "my only chance of occupation has lain with a

photographer who engaged me on the spot and insulted me in half an

hour. What beasts men are! I cannot typewrite, my three stories are

still wandering round, two milliners have refused me as a lay figure

because business was so bad. I am no use for a clerk, because I do not

understand shorthand. After all, I fancy that I shall have to apply

for a situation as a nursery governess who understands French. Faugh!"

She took up the last morsel of roll, and held it delicately between

her long slim fingers. Then her white teeth gleamed, and her excuse

for remaining any longer before that little marble table was gone. She

rose, paid her bill, and turned westwards.

She walked with long swinging steps, scorning the thought of buses or

the tube. If ever she felt fatigue in these long tramps which had

already taken her half over London, she never admitted it. Asking her

way once or twice, she passed along Fleet Street into the Strand, and

crossed Trafalgar Square, into Piccadilly. Here she walked more

slowly, looking constantly at the notices in the shop windows. One she

entered and met with a sharp rebuff, which she appeared to receive

unmoved. But when she reached the pavement outside her teeth were

clenched, and she carried herself unconsciously an inch or so higher.

It was just then that she came face to face with Nigel Ennison.

He was walking listlessly along, well-dressed, _debonnair_,

good-looking. Directly he saw Anna he accosted her. His manner was

deferential, even eager. Anna, who was disposed to be sharply

critical, could find no fault with it.

"How fortunate I am, Miss Pellissier! All day I have been hoping that

I might run across you. You got my note?"

"I certainly received a note," Anna admitted.

"You were going to answer it?"