On a yellow, foggy day just before Christmas, Lord Pinkerton, with whom Jane was lunching at his club (Lord Pinkerton was quite good to lunch with; you got a splendid feed for nothing), said, 'I shall be going over to Paris next month, Babs.'

'You can come if you like, Babs.

'Send Miss Hope in to me when she comes, Babs,' he said, and disappeared through the farther door.

I don't suppose Babs wants him, anyhow.'

If he really wants fat little Babs we can't stop him trying for her.' 'Life is difficult,' Lady Pinkerton sighed.

Poor dear little Babs.

Then her father kissed her, and smoothed her hair, and patted her head as he used to do when she was a child, and said, 'There, there, there, my poor little Babs.

One wants so many things.' Lord Pinkerton said, 'You're making a big mistake, Babs.

The chap's a bad investment, Babs....

Goodspeed, Hist. of Babs. and Assyrs., 336-50; En.

Goodspeed, Hist. of Babs. and Assyrs., 351-66; Jastrow, Relig.

Goodspeed, Hist. of Babs.

Olive White Fortenbacher (A); 2Apr58; R211961. Babs and the little gray man.

Olive White Fortenbacher (A); 2Apr58; R211961. Babs and the little gray man.