"I am so sorry," she said, pulling off the sleeves she had donned for the moment. "Is anybody going to dissect during the summer term? Shall I be able to get a part?" The two girls walked home together to Mona's rooms, Miss Lascelles's diminutive figure, in its half-æsthetic, half-babyish gown and cape, forming a curious contrast to that of her companion. "I really do apologise most humbly for my thoughtlessness," said Mona. "Don't," replied the other, swinging her ungloved hand and raising her slow pleasant voice more than was necessary in the quiet street; "one does not see too much enthusiasm in the world. It is good to have you back." "I feel rather like a Rip Van Winkle, as you may suppose." "Yes. The students seem to get younger every year. It is a terrible pity. One does not see how they are ever to take the place of some of the present seniors. What can they know of life?" "And, as a natural consequence, the supply of medical women will exceed the demand in the next ten years--in this country. After that, things will level themselves, I suppose; but at present, if a woman is to succeed, she must be better than the average man." "Whereas at present we are getting mainly average women, and of course the average woman is inferior to the average man." "Heretic!" "Oh, but wait till women have had their chance! When they are really educated, things will be very different." "Do you think so? If I did not believe in women as they are now, apart from a mythical posse, I should be miserable indeed. I have a great respect for higher education, but there is such a thing as Mother Nature as well." "Even Mother Nature has only had her say for half the race." They entered the house, and presently sat down to the luncheon-table. "Explanations are always a mistake," said Miss Lascelles suddenly. "Always," said Mona, "and especially when there is no occasion for them." "----but I should like to tell you that I thought out that nail metaphor (God forgive the term!) in relation to myself originally. It is because I am so familiar with that weakness in myself, that I recognised, or fancied I recognised, it in you. I think our minds are somewhat alike, though, of course, you have a much fresher and brighter way of looking at things than I." "----and I am the profounder student," she added mentally. "Explanations are not always a mistake," said Mona. "It was very kind of you to make that one. I should be glad to think my cost of mind was like yours, but I am afraid it is only the superficial resemblance which Giuseppe's violins bore to those of the master." "It is pleasant, is it not, to leave dusty museums now and then, and feel Science growing all around one? And what I love about London University is, that it allows for that kind of thing in its Honours papers. It is a case of 'This ought ye to have done, and not have left the other undone.' But it is difficult to find time for both."