"Oh, very well, then," Cicily rejoined, with one of those flashes of inspiration that were of such service to her as a presiding officer, "you read them yourself, Mrs. Carrington." At this happy suggestion, Mrs. Carrington uttered an ejaculation, but vouchsafed nothing more precise. Cicily waited for a few seconds, then continued gaily: "Now that the minutes are read, the specific business before the house is the consideration of new members. All working clubs to be successful must take in constantly virile, live members." Mrs. Morton, who had by no means forgotten her conversation with Mrs. McMahon and cherished a distinct grudge against that excellent woman, voiced a caution: "But, Mrs. Hamilton," she objected, "due care should be exercised in the selection." "The club cannot be too careful," Mrs. Carrington agreed. Mrs. McMahon was fuming in her chair, evidently on the edge of an outbreak. Mrs. Delancy saved the situation by prompt action. "I think," she said, rising, "that, if new members are to be voted on, they should not be present in the meeting during the discussion." "Oh, yes," Cicily made decision, with a smile of gratitude for her aunt. She nodded brightly toward the three candidates, and addressed them in her most winning voice. "Mrs. McMahon, will you and Mrs. Schmidt and Miss Ferguson kindly await the club's action in the next room?" She indicated the curtained archway that led into the withdrawing-room at the back. "Certainly, ma'am," the Irishwoman answered, with a rough haughtiness all her own. She heaved herself up from the gilt chair, which seemed to creak a sigh of relief; and the trio went out in the midst of a deep silence. Their departure set free a babel of chatter, a great part of it addressed in personal remonstrance to the presiding officer. Cicily lost patience, and called out sharply, with the authority of her office: "Any member addressing the chair will please follow the usual parliamentary procedure!" Mrs. Carrington was the first to take advantage of the formal method. Sitting elegantly in her place, she spoke: "Madam Chairman, I rise to a point of order." "Very well, then, Mrs. Carrington," Cicily rejoined, with her most official manner, "please rise." The outraged member bounced to her feet with an alacrity that was not her habit. It was evident that the lady was angry. "Really," she declared in an acid voice, "I never in my whole life--" "What was your point of order?" Cicily interrupted, blandly. "Why, well--well--that is, I've forgotten it now. But it was very big!" The presiding officer's sense of humor ran away with her discretion. "The chair," she announced gravely, "regrets exceedingly that the member found her point of order too big to raise." [Illustration] It was Mrs. Delancy who, after her usual fashion, strove to restore peace, as Mrs. Carrington indignantly settled back into her chair: