"Oh Lavinia, that thing's no good at all," said Helen impatiently. "It's absolutely wrong; the idea was wrong to begin with, and then I didn't even carry it out properly. What I'm doing now is quite different," she leaned forward, eager and unselfconscious, "I think I've discovered at last what I want to do; not impressionistic at all, purely decorative and very severe and simple. I really believe it's a style I can express myself in." She caught Mrs. Rodney's blank expression and relapsed into silence. "Well, I'm glad to know you're not really giving it up," said Mrs. Rodney, kindly. "But now I must be going, Lavinia, dear; I've got some shopping to do on the way home." Mrs. Greene stood up. "Good-bye, Miss Guest," she said. "Perhaps Lavinia will bring you to tea with me one day. I should enjoy a little talk about art." Helen winced visibly, but her voice was polite and non-committal as she said: "Thank you, Mrs. Greene, it's very good of you. Good-bye." "Do you mind if I go down with Mother; I won't be a minute?" asked Lavinia. She left the room, forgetting to close the door, and presently Mrs. Rodney's clear voice floated up from the hall. "Well, come and see us soon, darling, won't you? And tell me, do you see much of that Miss Guest? I think she's a very exaggerated young woman, and her manner struck me as most unfortunate." "We like her very much," Lavinia answered simply. "And she's awfully clever." "I must say I don't think mere cleverness is enough to excuse such brusque behaviour. Good-bye, dear; take care of yourself." The front door closed, and Lavinia came upstairs and into the drawing-room. Helen looked at her and laughed. "I'm glad you like me," she said. "But your Mother's perfectly right. I'm not nearly clever enough to justify my brusque behaviour, and from her point of view my manner is undoubtedly unfortunate." Lavinia flushed. "I'm sorry you heard," she said. "Mother is very critical, but she would like you if she knew you properly." "No she wouldn't. It's inconceivable that she could ever like me. Not in a thousand years. But I'm sorry I burst in on you and her like that. I was in a bad mood and thought I'd come and look at you and your house and profit by its example." "How do you mean?" "I don't mean anything at all nice, so let's leave it at that. You're looking very pretty Lavinia; the baby hasn't even begun to spoil your looks yet." "It will soon, I'm afraid. I look horribly black under the eyes in the morning. I only begin to get human about midday." "You really are extremely like Geoffrey." Helen spoke abruptly. "Lavinia, do you know I've been treating him abominably." "No, I didn't know that. I'm sorry. Geoffrey is a dear really; I'm awfully fond of him."