It was evident that the drawing-room had been arranged for her coming. Like Camilla's own charming person, the room had been swept of innumerable little prettinesses, and it looked bare and almost shabby. Sir Samuel's flowers had been carefully concealed. "Dear Violet," Camilla said, "won't you really take off your hat? It looks as if you were going to rush away so soon, dear, and, of course, you are going to stay the afternoon." Mrs. Horace Lancing shook her head stiffly. "I have to meet Horace at the stores at three," she said, "we are going back by the three-fifty train, so I must leave you early. Aren't the children in yet, Camilla?" "Betty is being made ready for luncheon, and Baby will come down by-and-by. You have no idea, Agnes, how much I like Miss Graniger ... the children's new governess," Camilla explained to her sister-in-law. Mrs. Brenton half frowned and half smiled. She had not supposed that matters would have gone so far in so short a time, and resented the prevarication on Caroline's account and on her own. But she said nothing. "Isn't that a new photograph of you, Camilla?" asked Mrs. Lancing, getting up and peering at a frame on the piano. "A snapshot," said Camilla, lightly. She moved near to Mrs. Brenton for an instant, and said in a low tone, "Don't glare at me so fiercely, Agnes.... I have arranged everything; she is enchanted, and I know she will be just the very girl for me...." Mrs. Horace Lancing put down the portrait. "Extremely well done for a snapshot," she said coldly. "I did not know you went in motors; those furs are new to me." Camilla laughed. "I am a fraud," she cried, "dressed up in other people's possessions. Ah! here is lunch at last! I hope you can eat leg of mutton, Violet? I confess I am not very fond of it, but," with a sigh, "everything nice is so dear. Don't you think life costs more and more every day?" Out on the staircase Betty was standing with her arm entwined in Caroline's. She allowed herself to be kissed with reluctance by her aunt, but clung about her mother's neck ecstatically for a moment. Camilla had done well to warn her guests; it was a very depressing luncheon; the mutton was underdone, the greens were gritty, and the potatoes full of water. Camilla made a few apologies. "A good cook is quite beyond my means, you know," she said plaintively. Mrs. Brenton tried hard not to laugh as she remembered the dainty fare Camilla's cook usually provided. She made the best of everything, but Mrs. Horace Lancing, who was very hungry, looked annoyed. "I never have cheap food," she observed, "it is not an economy." At this Camilla opened her eyes. "Do you really think that?" she asked; "and I am always trying to be so very cheap." Conversation lagged. Betty at the lower end of the table, had a good deal to say to Caroline, but it was all said in whispers.