"You're a goose, Grizel; an impracticable little goose. I'm afraid we shall never make a Martha of you." Then suddenly his face fell, and the caressing touch strengthened into a grasp. "You shouldn't have to do it," he cried sharply. "It isn't fair. You've been a miracle of generosity to me, darling, but when it comes to facing the stern realities of life, I wonder if I ought to have let you do it." "You couldn't help yourself," Grizel said calmly. "I asked you, and you couldn't for shame say no. Give me back my hand, dear. I want it, to go on eating. I do love having breakfast with you in our very own house, and I must make it last as long as possible, as I shan't see you again for four whole hours. ... What shall we do after lunch?" "Er--generally--if I'm in the mood--I go on writing till five o'clock." Martin spoke with hesitation, as though fearing a reproach, and Grizel narrowed her eyes, and smiled; a slow, enigmatical smile, but spoke not one rude word. She had quite decided that Martin should not be in the mood! "On Wednesday and Thursday I'm to be At Home!" was her next irrelevant remark. "We put fifteenth and sixteenth on our cards, and now that we've stayed away a week longer than we intended, the fell date is upon us before we can breathe. Do you suppose many people will come?" Martin's shrug was eloquent. "Every adult feminine creature who can crawl on two legs from a radius of five miles around, will crawl to the door. Hundreds of 'em! And with luck three or four males." "I could find it in my heart to wish it were t'other way round! However! never say die... There'll be no time to finish the drawing-room! I'll have to receive the surging mobs in the sitting-room upstairs. Let's pray the chairs will go round!" "Couldn't the drawing-room be got ready with a rush?" "Why in the world should we bother to rush?" "They'll be disappointed if you don't. The drawing-room is part of the show. The whole neighbourhood is speculating about it now, and wondering if it's blue or pink. A house with a closed drawing-room is like a play without the star. Do you realise, darling, that they'll expect to be shown all over the house?" "Let them expect, if it pleases them to do it, but they _won't_! Let me catch anyone trying it on!" cried Grizel sharply, and the gay eyes sent out a flash of fire. "My own little home!--it shall _not_ be turned into a peep-show for a flock of curious women to criticise and quiz. I'll give them tea, and I'll give them cake, I'll talk pretty, and put on a tea-gown which will scare 'em into fits, but show them over the house--_I will not_! Let's pretend the sitting-room _is_ the drawing-room, and all will be peace and joy."