600 ANGEL PAVEMENT

then." He was standing beside her now.

14 Oh dear," she gasped, a few minutes later, trying to
wipe her eyes. She was both laughing and crying now*
"Oh, clear, dear, dear, dear!"

He looked at her solemnly.

"Oh dear, dear, you do look a sight, Dad. I don't
know xvho looks the worst, you or this room. I never
saw such a sketch, though I expect I'm bad enough, good
ness knows!"

'I've dropped my eyeglasses, that's all that's wrong
with me," Mr. Smeeth announced, not without dignity.

"I can see that, Dad, I can see that," she told him,
dabbing at her face. "Here, I'll look for them. You sit
down. But, mind you, if they're broken, don't blame me.
It wasn't me that started throwing things about to-night,
was it? Here they are."

"Broken?"

"Yes, somebody made no mistake when they trod on
them. You'll have to wear your old ones for a day or
two, that's all I'll go and get them for you, and then
you can help me to clear this mess up,"

"All right, Edie." Mr. Smeeth hesitated. "Is there
anything to eat in the house. I'm getting hungry now."

"Didn't you have anything? Haven't you had any-
thing at all to-night? You silly man, why didn't you
say so? I'll go and get you something now. You go and
get your glasses, you know where they are—in the drawer
upstairs; If you can't see them, you can feel for them.
Yes, in the top drawer. And I'll get you something to
eat while you're finding them. Oh dear, what a life!
Still, it's the only one we've got, I suppose, so we'd better
make what we can out of it."

She bustled out and Mr. Smeeth followed her. He