"Most fortunate I happened to be at home," she was saying. "And if you had called on one of my _regular_ days, I shouldn't have had the chance of a _real_ talk with you. As it is, we shall be quite _tete-a-tete_.... Ah, here _is_ tea--you must tell me if you like it weak, dear Lady Harriet, and I shall remember the _next_ time you come. Yes, you find me all alone this afternoon. My eldest daughter, Edna, has gone to a lecture at her Mutual Improvement Society, on a German Philosopher called Nitchy, or some such name. She's so bookish and well-read, takes such an interest in all the latest movements--runs up to town for _matinees_ of intellectual dramas--_quite_ the modern type of girl. But not a blue-stocking--she's joined a Tango Class lately, and dances most beautifully, I'm told--just the figure for it. We got up a little Costume Ball here this winter--perhaps you may have heard of it?--Ah, well, my Edna was generally admitted to be the _belle_ of the evening. A perfect Juliet, everybody said. I went as her mother--Lady Capulet, you know. I _did_ think of going as Queen Elizabeth at one time. I've so often been told that if I ever went to a Fancy Dress Ball, I ought to go as her--or at all events as _one_ of our English Queens. But, however, I didn't. Mr. Stimpson went as a Venetian Doge, but I do _not_ consider myself that it was at all suitable to him." She did not say all this without a motive. She knew that a local Historical Pageant was being arranged for the coming Summer, and that Lady Harriet was on the Committee. Also she had heard that, after rehearsals had begun, some of the principal performers had resigned their parts, and the Committee had some difficulty in finding substitutes. It had struck her as not at all unlikely that her visitor had called with a view to ascertaining whether the services of any of the Stimpson household would be available. If she had, it was, of course very gratifying. If she had merely come in a neighbourly way, there was no harm in directing her attention to the family qualifications for a Pageant performance.