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heavy； most uninteresting manhad been sent down all the way to
Plaistow to inquire after the wounded hand of a machine…boy。 Young
Alexander； whose poetry some people could not even understand； had
been commissioned to search London for a second…hand edition of
Maitland's Architecture。 Since a fortnight nearly now； when he had
been sent out to drive away an organ that would not go； Johnny had been
given nothing。
Johnny turned the corner into Fleet Street feeling bitter with his lot。
A boy carrying a parcel stumbled against him。
〃Beg yer pardon〃 the small boy looked up into Johnny's face；
〃miss；〃 added the small boy； dodging the blow and disappearing into the
crowd。
The Babe； by reason of his childlike face； was accustomed to insults
of this character； but to…day it especially irritated him。 Why at twenty…
two could he not grow even a moustache？ Why was he only five feet
five and a half？ Why had Fate cursed him with a pink…and…white
complexion； so that the members of his own club had nicknamed him
〃the Babe；〃 while street…boys as they passed pleaded with him for a kiss？
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Why was his very voice； a flute…like alto； more suitable Suddenly an
idea sprang to life within his brain。 The idea grew。 Passing a barber's
shop； Johnny went in。
〃'Air cut； sir？〃 remarked the barber； fitting a sheet round Johnny's
neck。
〃No； shave；〃 corrected Johnny。
〃Beg pardon；〃 said the barber； substituting a towel for the sheet。
〃Do you shave up； sir？〃 later demanded the barber。
〃Yes；〃 answered Johnny。
〃Pleasant weather we are having；〃 said the barber。
〃Very；〃 assented Johnny。
From the barber's； Johnny went to Stinchcombe's； the costumier's； in
Drury Lane。
〃I am playing in a burlesque；〃 explained the Babe。 〃I want you to
rig me out completely as a modern girl。〃
〃Peeth o' luck！〃 said the shopman。 〃Goth the very bundle for you。
Juth come in。〃
〃I shall want everything；〃 explained the Babe； 〃from the boots to the
hat； stays； petticoatsthe whole bag of tricks。〃
〃Regular troutheau there；〃 said the shopman； emptying out the
canvas bag upon the counter。 〃Thry 'em on。〃
The Babe contented himself with trying on the costume and the
boots。
〃Juth made for you！〃 said the shopman。
A little loose about the chest； suggested the Babe。
〃Thath's all right；〃 said the shopman。 〃Couple o' thmall towelths；
all thath's wanted。〃
〃You don't think it too showy？〃 queried the Babe。
〃Thowy？ Sthylish； thath's all。〃
〃You are sure everything's here？〃
〃Everythinkth there。 'Thept the bit o' meat inthide；〃 assured him
the shopman。
The Babe left a deposit； and gave his name and address。 The
shopman promised the things should be sent round within an hour。 The
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Tommy and Co。
Babe； who had entered into the spirit of the thing； bought a pair of
gloves and a small reticule； and made his way to Bow Street。
〃I want a woman's light brown wig；〃 said the Babe to Mr。 Cox； the
perruquier。
Mr。 Cox tried on two。 The deceptive appearance of the second Mr。
Cox pronounced as perfect。
〃Looks more natural on you than your own hair； blessed if it
doesn't！〃 said Mr。 Cox。
The wig also was promised within the hour。 The spirit of
completeness descended upon the Babe。 On his way back to his
lodgings in Great Queen Street； he purchased a ladylike umbrella and a
veil。
Now； a quarter of an hour after Johnny Bulstrode had made his exit
by the door of Mr。 Stinchcombe's shop； one； Harry Bennett； actor and
member of the Autolycus Club； pushed it open and entered。 The shop
was empty。 Harry Bennett hammered with his stick and waited。 A
piled…up bundle of clothes lay upon the counter； a sheet of paper； with a
name and address scrawled across it； rested on the bundle。 Harry
Bennett； given to idle curiosity； approached and read the same。 Harry
Bennett； with his stick； poked the bundle； scattering its items over the
counter。
〃Donth do thath！〃 said the shopman； coming up。 〃Juth been putting
'em together。〃
〃What the devil；〃 said Harry Bennett； 〃is Johnny Bulstrode going to
do with that rig…out？〃
〃How thoud I know？〃 answered the shopman。 〃Private theathricals； I
suppoth。 Friend o' yourth？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Harry Bennett。 〃By Jove！ he ought to make a good
girl。 Should like to see it！〃
〃Well arthk him for a ticket。 Donth make 'em dirty；〃 suggested the
shopman。
〃I must；〃 said Harry Bennett； and talked about his own affairs。
The rig…out and the wig did not arrive at Johnny's lodgings within the
hour as promised； but arrived there within three hours； which was as
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Tommy and Co。
much as Johnny had expected。 It took Johnny nearly an hour to dress；
but at last he stood before the plate…glass panel of the wardrobe
transformed。 Johnny had reason to be pleased with the result。 A tall；
handsome girl looked back at him out of the glass… …a little showily
dressed； perhaps； but decidedly chic。
〃Wonder if I ought to have a cloak；〃 mused Johnny； as a ray of
sunshine； streaming through the window； fell upon the image in the glass。
〃Well； anyhow； I haven't；〃 thought Johnny； as the sunlight died away
again； 〃so it's no good thinking about it。〃
Johnny seized his reticule and his umbrella and opened cautiously
the door。 Outside all was silent。 Johnny stealthily descended； in the
passage paused again。 Voices sounded from the basement。 Feeling
like an escaped burglar； Johnny slipped the latch of the big door and
peeped out。 A policeman； pasting； turned and looked at him。 Johnny
hastily drew back and closed the door again。 Somebody was ascending
from the kitchen。 Johnny； caught between two terrors； nearer to the
front door than to the stairs； having no time； chose the street。 It seemed
to Johnny that the street was making for him。 A woman came hurriedly
towards him。 What was she going to say to him？ What should he
answer her？ To his surprise she passed him； hardly noticing him。
Wondering what miracle had saved him； he took a few steps forward。
A couple of young clerks coming up from behind turned to look at him；
but on encountering his answering stare of angry alarm； appeared
confused and went their way。 It began to dawn upon him that mankind
was less discerning than he had feared。 Gaining courage as he
proceeded； he reached Holborn。 Here the larger crowd swept around
him indifferent。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Johnny； coming into collision with a stout
gentleman。
〃My fault；〃 replied the stout gentleman； as； smiling； he picked up his
damaged hat。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 repeated Johnny again two minutes later；
colliding with a tall young lady。
〃Should advise you to take something for that