Page:The Sins of the Cities of the Plain.djvu/71

 they were all forbidden fruity and I verily believe I should have ventured to risk it with some one, if chance had not favoured me with an adventure which afforded the necessary relief.

Early one afternoon, as I was busy behind the counter, I heard some one speaking to our principal shopwalker.

"Send a good variety of patterns, Mr. Gooser, let him bring them about four o'clock; my sister will then be at liberty to look them over."

Something seemed to strike me that I was indicated; so looking up I saw a very handsome young lady with an equally handsome man of about thirty, who was evidently her brother, speaking to the shopwalker.

"Certainly, my lord; he shall wait upon her ladyship without fail," I heard