across the square . Hilton Friars . Tommy Blaney &apos;s nose was pressed flat against the shop window , his blue eyes gazing seriously through a wisp of fair hair which would keep falling across his eyes . he pushed his lower lip forward and blew the strands away again and , at the same time , stood back from the window and rubbed his hands together happily . his sister Margaret would look beautiful in that dress , he thought wistfully , just like he imagined an angel would look . his eyes lit up with excitement as he dug his hands deep into the pockets of his duffle coat . he would buy it for her . and then , as the feel of the twopence halfpenny which his fingers closed upon revealed the cold result of his financial position , his happy expression faded . he gave a manly little shrug and turned slowly away . how much was it , anyway , he asked himself miserably . a lot more than he had in his money box . he sidled back to the window and looked for the price . fifteen guineas it said , plain as anything - that was paper money that was . he stood thoughtfully looking at the dress from the doorway of the shop . on the other side of the square , Michael Price paused in his dictating and stared absently down through the window of his office on the first floor of Bank Buildings . behind him , Stella Travis , a discontented-looking girl with a notebook balanced on her lap above shapely crossed legs , looked casually at her long silver-lacquered finger nails . she was fast coming to the conclusion that she was wasting her charms on this new boss of hers , who seemed to look upon her as a mere dictating machine . if he did n&apos;t get on with this letter she would be late for her lunch date , and what &apos;s more she &apos;d tell him so shortly . Michael watched the little figure standing in front of the shop window and wondered what could possibly be attracting a small boy so much in a window displaying outfits for a bride and wedding guests . he remembered that in his own childhood he spent hours looking into a shop that sold meccano sets , but ladies &apos; shops never had any appeal for him . the child &apos;s attitude intrigued him until he just could n&apos;t contain his curiosity any longer . he turned suddenly . that &apos;s all now , Miss Travis , thank you - we &apos;ll leave the rest till after lunch , and quickly gathering up his hat and gloves , he left the office . what &apos;s got him ? Miss Travis wondered , her curiosity taking her to the window . she saw Michael cross the square and stop in front of the shop window that had attracted Tommy , who had just disappeared round the corner . Michael scrutinised the window display in the hope of discovering what had so held the child &apos;s attention . surely it could n&apos;t have been the dresses . what a lovely creation in lace that was in the centre . he supposed it would be accompanying some lucky fellow down the church aisle soon . a little disappointed at not having his curiosity satisfied , he turned away and almost collided with Stella Travis . pretty , is n&apos;t it ? she purred , as he raised his hat in some embarrassment . some lucky girl , she pouted , and looked at him coyly . er-er-yes . I was just admiring the lace - quite a change from the usual woollens we see at the office , he stammered clumsily . why did Miss Travis always make him feel such an idiot - she was so poised and self-assured . she made no attempt to move away and he said firmly , well , I must n&apos;t keep you from your lunch , and quickly left her . Stella Travis was , however , far too thick-skinned to take that as a rebuff . the next day as Michael sat in his office his mind wandered to that earnest little boy he had seen across the square the previous day . the ordeal of dictation with Miss Travis was over for the morning , thank goodness . yesterday &apos;s encounter outside the shop seemed to have given her ideas and she had been casting coy glances at him all the morning . it was no good . he would have to get her transferred . she was far too much of an embarrassment for him . he would speak to the secretary about it . he went to the window and immediately forgot his problem typist when he saw the little boy outside the shop again . Tommy bent to take a ruler from the top of his stocking , held it at arm &apos;s length and surveyed the length of it . then , with one eye closed , he tried to measure how many times it would go into the length of the bride &apos;s dress . he did this several times , much to the amusement of passers by , of whom Tommy was quite oblivious . Michael &apos;s eyes softened as he recalled his own childhood . he had good reason to be grateful to St Edward &apos;s Orphanage for the opportunities which they had made available to him and which consequently led to the good position he now held in his firm . little boys , therefore , always had a very special interest for him . he was out of his office and across the road at Tommy &apos;s side in next to no time at all . Tommy was far too busy with his measuring to notice Michael , who could n&apos;t help smiling at his serious little face . he put an arm gently on Tommy &apos;s shoulder . who &apos;s the lucky girl ? he asked seriously . Tommy answered excitedly , my sister Margaret &amp;hellip; . I &apos;ve measured - it &apos;s just right for her - it &apos;s as long as her nighty . Michael stifled a laugh and adopted a man-to-man attitude . does your sister want that dress ? she &apos;d look beautiful in it , Tommy said dreamily . Michael tried again . is she getting married ? she will be soon , and I want her to have that lovely dress . it &apos;s just like the one she told my little sister and me about in a story where the prince came from far , far away on a big ship . Margaret said she would like a dress like that when she married her prince . my sister &apos;s the best sister in the world , he finished proudly , putting the ruler back in his stocking . have you any money ? Michael asked him . how much is fifteen guineas really ? I &apos;ve got 12 s 7 1/2 d in my money box and I &apos;ve got a super butterfly collection I could sell . my dad said it was worth a lot of money . would n&apos;t your dad buy the dress for Margaret ? Michael asked helpfully . we have n&apos;t got a dad - or a mum , now , mister . they got burned when our house caught fire , he said , almost without expression . that &apos;s why I want to get the dress for Margaret - she looks after Tina and me , and she &apos;s beautiful and kind . Tommy looked at the clock in the nearby church . ooh , it &apos;s late - I &apos;ll have to be going home for my dinner or I &apos;ll be late back for school . Michael was too interested now to leave Tommy . I &apos;m going your way . he took Tommy &apos;s direction . I &apos;ll see you across the road &amp;hellip; . where is your school ? he asked . in Bridge Street . Tommy indicated the direction with a nod . just behind the station . Michael remembered seeing a small school near several rows of houses . he supposed it was probably the only school in the centre of the city . Tommy pointed to a tall , important-looking building rising high above the other blocks of buildings . see right at the top , mister , where the curtains are - that &apos;s where we live . my Grandpa is the caretaker and Margaret and Tina and me came to live there after our house got burned . Margaret helps Grandpa now &apos;cos Grandma &apos;s ill but she &apos;s going to get a job soon . he paused to consider and then chatted on . it &apos;s nice living high up - you can see all over the town , and we can hear the big burr of the Town Hall clock when it &apos;s going to strike . he burred several times in demonstration . Michael thought how quiet and lonely it must be at night living at the top of one of these buildings , when all the office workers had left the city and were spending their leisure hours at home in the suburbs . how does it feel going to bed so high up ? oh , it &apos;s nice &amp;hellip; . Tommy smiled up at Michael . every night Tina and me sit by the window looking down on all the twinkling lights while Margaret tells us a story . it &apos;s quiet and beautiful , Mister . just like being on a ship at night , I expect , Michael said , with the twinkling stars to light up the dark sky . Tommy &apos;s eyes shone . have you been on a ship then ? yes , I sailed back from South Africa a few months ago . Tommy showed his admiration . you would love to see the animals in the game preserve there , I know . sounds smashing . they turned a corner and Tommy pointed to an imposing looking entrance across the road . that &apos;s where we live , he said , and turned to wave goodbye as he crossed into the roadway . there was a screeching of brakes and a shout and Michael was just in time to snatch a white-faced Tommy back on to the pavement , the car just grazing his leg . are you all right ? Michael &apos;s face was full of anxiety for the frightened child . the colour had drained from his face . Michael gently steered him across the road . I &apos;ll take you home , he comforted . Tommy had obviously had a nasty shock and Michael was just wondering what to do with him when a young girl came hurrying down the steps , her face flushed and her fair curls bobbing as she ran . tenderly she placed her arms round Tommy . oh , poor Tommy , are you hurt , are you hurt ? she cried . you did n&apos;t look both ways before crossing the road like you promised . I saw you through the window . all her thoughts were for Tommy as she looked him over for hurts , and comforted him with loving words . oh , Tommy , nothing must happen to you , she whispered as she clutched him to her , quite oblivious of Michael . she &apos;s little more than a child herself , Michael thought , and could n&apos;t help staring . her dark eyelashes lay damp and shining on her cheeks . she smiled then and opened her eyes - blue as the sea on a cloudless day . come along , Tommy , she said , come and show Grandpa you &apos;re all right . it was then that she noticed Michael . oh , I &apos;m so rude . I thought only of Tommy . thank you for saving him from a nasty accident , she said shyly , her eyes full of gratitude . her arm round Tommy , they went up the steps together . Michael stood for a moment feeling useless and very much the passer-by . the warmth and affection showered on young Tommy by the girl , who was obviously sister Margaret , brought home to Michael the absence of family affection in his childhood . he thoughtfully walked away . Michael looked out of his office window very often after that and wondered whether he would see Tommy again , but several days went by without even a glimpse of him . Miss Travis constantly followed Michael &apos;s gaze and once she asked him if he was looking for anyone special . she knew now that she was being moved to another department , and as she did not seem to be making any headway personally with Michael she did n&apos;t mind , in fact the sooner the better and more luck next time was her motto . she had been told she would not be transferred until they got someone to take her place . I see that dress has gone from the window over the way , she remarked pointedly , the lace wedding gown , I mean &amp;hellip; the one you were looking at a few days ago &amp;hellip; . oh that - I expect you &apos;ll be thinking of having one like that , he said , with an attempt at laughing it off . he found it easier to evade her advances now that he knew that she was being transferred . one of your many young men will be sweeping you off your feet , one of these days , he went on provocatively , better mind your step . 