Then she tied it up with a smart red ribbon, and sat a minute looking at it with a sober, wistful expression, which plainly showed how earnest her work had been. She put on her hat and jacket as noiselessly as possible, and going to the back entry window, got out upon the roof of a low porch, swung herself down to the grassy bank, and took a roundabout way to the road. Once there, she composed herself, hailed a passing omnibus, and rolled away to town, looking very merry and mysterious. If anyone had been watching her, he would have thought her movements decidedly peculiar, for on alighting, she went off at a great pace till she reached a certain number in a certain busy street. Having found the place with some difficulty, she went into the doorway, looked up the dirty stairs, and after standing stock still a minute, suddenly dived into the street and walked away as rapidly as she came. This maneuver she repeated several times, to the great amusement of a blackeyed young gentleman lounging in the window of a building opposite. When she saw the young gentleman she looked anything but pleased, and passed him with a nod. How many did you have out? What were you doing, sir, up in that billiard saloon? Or there will be an end of all our good times. All about people you know, and such fun! You get everything you want out of people. When will you stop such romping ways? Just think how delightful that must be! The girls listened with interest, for the tale was romantic, and somewhat pathetic, as most of the characters died in the end. Dear me, how delighted they all were, to be sure! March was when she knew it. It was good practice, he said, and when the beginners improved, anyone would pay. We might as well be in a treadmill.