home. Of course you must go."

"Oh, I couldn't," returned Rose. "I promised Aunt Lucy. Besides"--

"You little country mouse!" laughed Pauline. "I believe you are afraid to
go. Who do you think would eat you? Never mind, there is 'The Golden
Legend' at the Albert Hall on Thursday. We'll go to that. But I must be
quick; I promised to be there early. Rosie, be my good angel, and clean my
shoes for me. You'll find the stuff in that box. I can't trust Mrs.
Richards with my kid shoes. No, not that box, darling, the one below it."

Rose, who was delicately fastidious about all her own belongings, could
never understand how Pauline allowed her room to be so untidy, and as she
opened the box and took out the pot of polish she blushed to find herself
thinking of Aunt Dinah and her kitchen drawers in _Uncle Tom's Cabin_. She
took the boots away and cleaned them, and brought them back.

"Mrs. Richards isn't in the kitchen, Pauline. She hasn't gone, has she?"

"Poor dear little Rosie! Was she afraid she was going to be left all
alone?" laughed Pauline. "She has only gone to get me a hansom, dear. I
shall spoil my dress if I go by omnibus, and it is too far to walk. Have
you five shillings in your purse you can lend me? I am hard up till the
end of the term."

Rose produced the five shillings, which was not by any means the first
loan Pauline had asked for. She hated herself for feeling so hurt and
angry with her friend, and she was glad to lend her the money she wanted.
Life would become quite intolerable in the flat if she was going to lose
her belief in Pauline.