"The Citizen may be a muddle-headed crank, Phil," said Timothy, "but he is a man for all that." Philip did not hear, though he would have agreed readily. He was wondering why the haughty Miss Jennings should patronize Mr. Brand's meetings. Still, there she was, endeavouring to take cover from his observation behind a small but heated debate which had arisen between a gentleman with a blue ribbon and another with a red rose. Timothy caught sight of her, too, and promptly rushed in where Philip feared to tread. "Good-afternoon, Miss Jennings," he said. "I'm surprised to find you, with your strict Conservative principles, coming out to encourage such a low entertainment as this." He indicated Mr. Brand, now working up to a peroration. Miss Jennings stiffened indignantly. "I suppose I can come out and amuse myself listening to a pack of nonsense if I like, Mr. Rendle," she said, "the same as any one else?" "What do you think of Mr. Brand as a speaker?" asked Philip. "I wasn't listening to him particularly," said Miss Jennings, untruthfully. "What do you think of his views on ragtime?" enquired Tim. "I think they are silly." "Can you interpret a symphony, Miss Jennings?" asked Philip. "No," confessed the girl reluctantly; "I can't say I can." "I believe you are a Socialist, too, Miss Jennings," said Tim, shaking his head sadly. Miss Jennings, after an unsuccessful attempt to wither him with a glance, passed on. * * * * * Philip received a scalding cup of tea from his hostess, and lowered himself timidly to a seat beside her. "I am so glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Meldrum," said Lady Rendle. "I have heard so much of you from my boy. One likes to meet some one one knows takes an interest in one's belongings, doesn't one?" Philip, painfully unravelling this sentence, suddenly caught his hostess's eye, and realised that an answer was expected of him. "Yes," he said, _sforzando_. "Oh, yes! One does." Graciously directed to help himself to something to eat, he dipped blindly into the nearest dish, with the result that he immediately found himself the proprietor of a bulky corrugated tube of French pastry, with cream protruding from either end. He surveyed it miserably, wondering dimly if it would be possible to restore it without attracting attention. He was frustrated by Lady Rendle. "I like to see a young man," she said approvingly, "who is not afraid of tea and sweet cakes. There are far too many of them nowadays who consider it beneath their dignity to take tea at all. Caviare sandwiches and whiskey-and-soda are all they will condescend to. And now," she added briskly, "I want to introduce you to a charming girl." The quaking Philip, with his bilious burden, was conducted across the room and presented to a pretty girl in a hat which for the time being deprived its wearer of the use of one eye. "This is Mr. Meldrum, Barbara dear," announced Lady Rendle. "Miss Duncombe."