But he couldn't keep his attention on the journal he was reading .sx He glanced at his watch .sx Three minutes to go , and then he'd be perfectly safe .sx Despite himself , a feeling of dissatisfaction crept over him .sx Then a gay voice sounded outside the window , and he stared straight into Scylla's wide-open eyes .sx There she was , looking prettier than ever in a long blue coat with grey furry stuff round her neck , and a priceless spray of orchids pinned across it .sx There , too , was the inevitable cavalier , immaculately dressed , intensely adoring , bearing box of chocolates and an armful of flaunting magazines .sx " This'll do , Scylla .sx Plenty of room here .sx " " Darling George , it most emphatically will not do !sx I travel third , as befits my humble calling !sx " Scylla's clear , high voice came floating through the carriage window .sx " Hang it , Scylla , you can't !sx I wouldn't dream of letting you .sx Where's your ticket ?sx Hi , guard , just change this to first-class , will " " .sx Inside the carriage , Heron waited for Scylla's indignant refusal .sx Surely she wasn't going to allow this upstart young pusher to pay her first-class fare on a hundred mile journey .sx Ten to one she'd only met him a couple of nights before .sx No refusal came .sx Scylla , all smiles , all fascination , faintly and exquisitely perfumed , gently allowed herself to be assisted into the opposite corner .sx " Good-bye , George ; you've been just sweet to me !sx Thanks tremendously !sx " The train moved out of the station .sx " Good-afternoon , Miss Saracen , " said Heron stiffly .sx " May I congratulate you on having acquired the art of travelling in comfort ?sx " he added icily .sx " Good-afternoon , Mr. Heron , " returned Scylla .sx " And may I congratulate you on having acquired the art of making the most offensive remark possible under any circumstances whatsoever ?sx " Heron made no reply .sx Scylla laughed .sx " Don't mind me , " she said .sx " I find you superlatively refreshing .sx At least , you're sincere .sx I suppose you really are so ?sx " she added doubtfully .sx " You do really think me a perfect little beast ?sx You do think I'm genuinely out for myself , and don't care a hoot about anything or anybody ?sx You do think I'm the world's deepest digger for theatre tickets , and meal tickets , and dance tickets , and and railway tickets ?sx " She smiled mischievously .sx " I have to go by appearances , " said Heron guardedly .sx " You seem very sure , at any rate , that I do think about you .sx " Scylla sat up .sx " That's a straight left-hander !sx Bang into the bull's-eye me being the bull !sx Look , is it going black already , Mr. Heron ?sx " She pushed her hat away from her eyes and gazed pathetically at him .sx Heron shifted uncomfortably in his seat .sx " You do hurt me sometimes , " she sighed .sx " Still , you must have brought your great mind down to the little problem of me for a moment or two , mustn't you ?sx " " I was thinking , not only of you , but of the good of the firm , " argued Heron .sx " Business is half my life the major half , I should say .sx There was a time when I thought it was half yours , too .sx You were dead keen on your job when you first took it on , weren't you ?sx Remember how excited you used to be when sales rose a couple of thousand ?sx " " I'm just as excited now , " declared Scylla .sx " It's not only my threepence a dozen commission that thrills me when I have a good day .sx It's the thought that we're glowing gradually being built up biggerand bigger and that I'm helping in a tiny way mouse gnawing at the lion's cords sort of thing .sx I'm still all for Pearlie , and all for you in your official capacity .sx Personalities have nothing to do with you or me .sx We're all out for stern , hard work .sx " " I like that , " laughed Heron , " coming from the lady of a million adorers a million " .sx He pulled himself up sharply .sx Dash it , he was becoming friendly with the girl .sx He mustn't talk to her like this !sx SCYLLA had shrunk back in mock humiliation .sx " Unkind !sx Unkind !sx " she moaned .sx " You're sneering at me now !sx " " Do you know the story of your name ?sx " inquired Heron gravely .sx " I do , indeed .sx Now you're going to draw some hideous parallel , aren't you ?sx " " I am .sx " Heron looked at her intently .sx " The classical Scylla was very lovely very , very fascinating .sx She had a host of admirers .sx And she stirred up a tremendous amount of jealousy .sx Then one day , unwittingly , she stepped into the enchanted waters of Circe , and , bang , she was done for .sx Turned into a horrible monster with twelve heads and thirty-six rows of teeth and barking dogs instead of feet .sx And everyone loathed her so much that she chucked herself into the sea and was changed into rocks , and not a single sailor-boy dared to come near her !sx There's an awful warning for you , Miss Saracen !sx " " I don't see it .sx She couldn't help it .sx She was just unlucky , poor dear , and luck's a game you can't blame anyone for losing .sx " " And luck's a peg , " retorted Heron , " on which a lot of people hang the consequences of their own lack of effort .sx " " Shall I tell you what's the matter with you ?sx " said Scylla reflectively .sx " You've given me your pretty candid opinion of myself .sx Let me have an innings .sx " " I should like to hear it , " replied Heron simply .sx " Of course I should .sx I'm only human , and it's natural to have curiosity about oneself .sx Go ahead .sx " " Have I carte blanche ?sx Am I off duty for the moment ?sx Can I say what I think without being rude , or lacking in appreciation of the dignity of your position ?sx " " Rather !sx " " You're stifled !sx Utterly and absolutely stifled !sx Your head's muffled in the bag of constant effort .sx You don't give yourself a chance to live naturally .sx You don't give yourself time to enjoy yourself .sx You're always trying to do more and do it better .sx You never relax .sx You're not weak yourself , and you've no toleration for people who are .sx All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy .sx You're a very , very dull boy , Mr. Heron !sx " " I don't see it .sx " Heron's tone was slightly aggrieved .sx " I play rugger occasionally , golf often , squash every other day , and tennis off and on .sx I keep perfectly fit .sx " " Yes , but you work at your play .sx That's the trouble .sx You're always trying to win , to beat someone else , or to beat your own handicap .sx Have I said too much ?sx " " No no .sx I don't agree with you , all the same .sx What's the good of being alive if you don't put your back into it .sx I've no time for slackers .sx And as for being intolerant , I don't believe in mincing matters .sx I can't go through life making myself quite so charming to everybody as you do !sx " " Then you do think me charming ?sx " Scylla smiled at him .sx HERON stood up , and lifted his suit-case from the rack .sx " I must have notice , " he prevaricated , " of such leading questions .sx Now , if you'll excuse me , Miss Saracen , I've got some work to do even if I am in the train .sx D'you mind if I just glance through these papers ?sx " " I wouldn't interfere with your activity for one moment , " replied Scylla .sx " Carry on .sx " She took off her hat , patted her hair , and leant back idly .sx " And d'you mind , Mr. Heron , if I make myself thoroughly comfortable and prepare to be as lazy as I feel ?sx " She lifted her feet gracefully on to the seat , curled herself cosily against the dark blue cushions , and closed her eyes .sx There was silence .sx Heron frowningly rustled papers .sx Little minx !sx He must not he simply must not look in her direction .sx Lovely perfume she used .sx He could just get a whiff from where he sat .sx It was positively distracting .sx He felt for his cigarette-case .sx Perhaps if he smoked he wouldn't notice it .sx He struck a match , and inevitably looked across the carriage .sx Scylla made no movement .sx Her eyes were shut and she was breathing gently .sx Her eyelashes gleamed goldy-brown against her delicate cheek .sx Her lovely lips had a pathetic twist , and her hair was childishly ruffled .sx Suddenly she opened her eyes and met his fixed gaze .sx " Am I charming ?sx " she said drowsily .sx Heron took two steps across the carriage and bent over her .sx " You're ravishing beautiful maddening !sx " he panted .sx " I'm going to kiss you .sx I've got to got to !sx D'you d'you mind ?sx " Scylla lifted one arm and put it round his neck , her eyes answering his .sx Then she gave a little laugh faintly , provocatively , almost triumphantly .sx Her head sank back against his shoulder , her lips curved in invitation .sx Heron stared into her face .sx Suddenly he loosed his clasp and stood up straight .sx " You're fooling me , " he muttered .sx " That's what you wanted .sx I'm not going to give in to you .sx I'm not joining the ranks of your petting party .sx You you siren !sx " He stepped back .sx " You're playing a game with me , just as you do with everyone , " he accused .sx Scylla sat up , bewildered .sx " I swear to you that I was behaving perfectly sincerely , " she said .sx " And without any previous intention .sx It was not I who made who made the the first advance .sx " The colour flamed into her face .sx She crammed her hat over her hair .sx " I'm going !sx " she stormed .sx " You think the worst of everybody !sx I won't stay in the same carriage with you another moment !sx You're a prig , and a boor , and and a fish !sx I wish I had never to see you again !sx " She struggled with the door into the corridor .sx " Allow me .sx " He slid the door open for her to pass .sx " I'm I'm sorry , Miss Saracen .sx " " Sorry !sx " she raged .sx " You'll wear out the carpet with sorrow as far as I'm concerned .sx " Good-bye , you you snail !sx " SHE almost ran down the corridor .sx Heron , left alone , sank down on the seat and .sx wished he had never been born .sx What on earth had possessed him ?sx He kicked himself mentally .sx He deserved to be shot .sx To grab at the girl like that , and then turn round and put the blame on her !sx She hadn't done anything except look distractingly pretty , and you couldn't exactly call that her fault .sx Of all the miserable fools , he'd appeared the worst .sx And , having gone so far , why had he pushed her away from him as though he couldn't bear the sightof her as though he hadn't really wanted to kiss her ?sx Not wanted to !sx Slowly and painfully it dawned upon him that he'd wanted to kiss her for days , for weeks , for months .sx It was just his insufferable conceit setting himself up above other men , not wanting that which they also desired .sx Twice he got up and looked along the corridor , but there was no sign of Scylla .sx Anyway , he didn't know what to say to her when he did see her .sx There was no excuse , he reflected , as the train ran through the suburbs of Birmingham .sx Perhaps he would see her on the platform .sx But the station was crowded , and at Cox's stores he was taken straight to the manager's room and remained in conference .sx In his hotel bed-room , just before dinner , he ran his hands through his pockets , and there encountered Scylla's pay envelope .sx The cashier had said Scylla was short of money .sx Supposing the poor girl hadn't a penny to bless herself with and to-morrow was Sunday !sx He cursed himself for a careless blighter .sx She'd have been to the post-office inquiring for a telegram , and have found nothing .sx He made a dash for the telephone .sx " Hallo !sx Is that's Cox's hostel ?sx Can I speak to the welfare superintendent ?sx This is Heron , of Pearlie's .sx Can you tell me where you sent my demonstrator , Miss Saracen ?sx I've got to get in touch with her at once .sx " Raging , he listened to the superintendent's calm voice telling him that the rooms they'd originally fixed up for Miss Saracen had fallen through .sx They'd given her three addresses to try .sx They hadn't heard again from her , so they supposed she'd got in somewhere .sx Got in somewhere !sx With the rain pelting down outside , and she trudging along swimming pavements in her pretty , useless shoes .sx With no money , into the bargain !sx Heron built up a harrowing picture .sx " Give me the addresses !sx " he cried , snatching up a pencil .sx The first house was a blank .sx At the second a stout , talkative woman wasted three precious minutes in vain description of lodgers not in the least like Scylla .sx