"That manicure girl is a circus," said Mrs. Owen, quite oblivious of the undercurrent of her niece's thoughts. "When they had a vaudeville show last winter she did the best stunts of any of 'em. You didn't mention those Jewesses that I had such a row to get in? Smart girls. One of 'em is the fastest typewriter in town; she's a credit to Jerusalem, that girl. And a born banker. They've started a savings club and Miriam runs it. They won't lose any money." Mrs. Owen chuckled; and the rest laughed. There was no question of Mrs. Owen's pride in Elizabeth House. "Did you see any plumbers around the place?" she demanded of Sylvia. "I've been a month trying to get another bathroom put in on the third floor, and plumbers do try the soul." "That's all done," replied Sylvia. "The matron told me to tell you so." "I'm about due to go over there and look over the linen," remarked Mrs. Owen, with an air of making a memorandum of a duty neglected. "Well, I guess it's comfortable enough," said Marian. "But I should think you could do better than that, Sylvia. You'll have to eat at the same table with some typewriter pounder. With all your education I should think it would bore you." "Sylvia will have to learn about it for herself, Marian," said Mrs. Bassett. "I've always understood that the executive board is very careful not to admit girls whose character isn't above reproach." Mrs. Owen turned the key of her old-fashioned coffee urn sharply upon the cup she was filling and looked her niece in the eye. "Oh, we're careful, Hallie; we're careful; but I tell 'em not to be _too_ careful!" "Well, of course the aim is to protect girls," Mrs. Bassett replied, conscious of a disconcerting acidity in her aunt's remark. "I'm not afraid of contamination," observed Sylvia. "Of course not _that_," rejoined Mrs. Bassett hastily. "I think it's fine that with your culture you will go and live in such a place; it shows a beautiful spirit of self-sacrifice." "Oh, please don't say that! I'm going there just because I want to go!" And then, smiling to ease the moment's tension, "I expect to have the best of times at Elizabeth House." "Sylvia"--remarked Mrs. Owen, drawling the name a trifle more than usual--"Sylvia can do what she pleases anywhere." "I think," said Bassett, who had not before entered into the discussion, "that Aunt Sally has struck the right word there. In these days a girl can do as she likes; and we haven't any business to discuss Miss Garrison's right to live at Elizabeth House." "Of course, Sylvia, we didn't mean to seem to criticize you. You know that," said Mrs. Bassett, flushing. "You are my friends," said Sylvia, glancing round the table, "and if there's criticizing to be done, you have the first right." "If Sylvia is to be criticized,--and I don't understand that any one has tried it," remarked Mrs. Owen,--"I want the first chance at her myself." And with the snapping of her spectacle case they rose from the table.