When every one had finished eating too much (the Crevequers wondered to each other afterwards why it had come to an end just at that point, no sooner and no later; they themselves, once wound up to eat continuously, could have carried it on indefinitely), Mrs. Venables found a divan for herself and Betty in a secluded corner of the large hall, and continued the process of eduction. She had formed a plan; she wished of all things to come into contact with the real life of the people; she wanted Tommy and Betty to help her. 'You must be so delightfully intimate with them. With me they may be suspicious and reserved at first. And I am not at all completely mistress of the language. But I can at all events give them a very genuine sympathy and interest; and it would please me to try the experiment. I know something of our girls in London who work at the great factories. If we could form a sort of club here--social evenings, and so on--your help would be of immense value to me. You have achieved a real intimacy--you and your brother. To share the same faith must be a tremendous bond; there is no more tenacious or more beautiful tie, as Tolstoy says.... You remember the passage, perhaps?' Betty shook her head. 'We don't read much, Tommy and I don't. There seems always something else to be done, out in the streets or somewhere.' 'The true pagan joy in mere living,' reflected Mrs. Venables, and continued: 'If one could call oneself, definitely, a member of any faith.... But one cannot, after all, sacrifice truth to beauty--even to the beauty of sympathy and close community with others.... You are happy in having found a firm foothold.' Mrs. Venables was not crude enough to ask questions on these subjects; she drew confidence gently towards her. Doubt found in her always a ready hearer. But Betty, it seemed, was not in doubt. A further step in intimacy Mrs. Venables achieved. 'If there is anything I can do to help you.... I should be glad, you know, to be of any service to your father's children.... We must see a great deal of each other.' 'Thank you very much,' said Betty, considering. Mrs. Venables perceived the pondering glance of the melancholy eyes, and leaned forward, laying a gentle hand on the thin childish one, waiting confidence. 'Well ... if you would be so awfully kind as to l-lend us twenty francs,' the sad tones stammered. 'Lend you....' Mrs. Venables drew back; her surprise startled Betty. It was, surely, a very usual and natural request. 'Of course,' Mrs. Venables said gently, after a moment. 'I will give it to you now.... I am so sorry....' 'Thank you tremendously.' Betty put the notes in her purse. Mrs. Venables became aware that the Crevequer smile, with the single dimple, was rather engaging. Then Tommy came up with Venables, and said it was time to go away. Miss Varley, as she said good-bye, referred to Betty's statement that she sometimes posed.