Lady John's embarrassment was not so much at seeing that her friend had divined the gist of the arrangement that had been effected downstairs. It was that Vida should be at no pains to throw a decent veil over the fact of her realization that Lady John had come there in the character of scout. With an openness not wholly free from scorn, the younger woman had laid her own cards on the table. She made no scruple at turning her back on Lady John's somewhat incoherent evasion. Ignoring it she crossed the room and opened the door for her. Jean was in the corridor saying good-bye to the chairman of the afternoon. 'Well, Mr. Trent,' said Miss Levering in even tones, 'I didn't expect to see you this evening.' He came forward and stood in the doorway. 'Why not? Have I ever failed?' 'Lady John,' said Vida, turning, 'this is one of our allies. He is good enough to squire me through the rabble from time to time.' 'Well,' said Lady John, advancing quite graciously, 'I think it's very handsome of you after what she said to-day about men.' 'I've no great opinion of most men myself,' said the young gentleman. 'I might add, or of most women.' 'Oh!' Lady John laughed. 'At any rate I shall go away relieved to think that Miss Levering's plain speaking hasn't alienated _all_ masculine regard.' 'Why should it?' he said. 'That's right.' Lady John metaphorically patted him on the back. 'Don't believe all she says in the heat of propaganda.' 'I _do_ believe all she says. But I'm not cast down.' 'Not when she says----' 'Was there never,' he made bold to interrupt, 'a misogynist of _my_ sex who ended by deciding to make an exception?' 'Oh!' Lady John smiled significantly; 'if _that's_ what you build on!' 'Why,' he demanded with an effort to convey 'pure logic,' 'why shouldn't a man-hater on your side prove equally open to reason?' 'That aspect of the question has become irrelevant so far as I'm personally concerned,' said Vida, exasperated by Lady John's look of pleased significance. 'I've got to a place where I realize that the first battles of this new campaign must be fought by women alone. The only effective help men could give--amendment of the law--they refuse. The rest is nothing.' 'Don't be ungrateful, Vida. Here is this gentleman ready to face criticism in publicly championing you----' 'Yes, but it's an illusion that I, as an individual, need a champion. I am quite safe in the crowd. Please don't wait for me and don't come for me again.' The sensitive dark face flushed. 'Of course if you'd rather----' 'And that reminds me,' she went on, unfairly punishing poor Mr. Trent for Lady John's meaning looks, 'I was asked to thank you, and to tell you, too, that they won't need your chairmanship any more--though that, I beg you to believe, has nothing to do with any feeling of mine.' He was hurt and he showed it. 'Of course I know there must be other men ready--better known men----'