"Well, lady, the workman gets blamed when the blame belongs to somebody else. You see, we had to wait for the paper, and when we got the paper we had to wait for the frieze, and then when we got the frieze we had to wait for that bit of paint just to finish off the doors. Still, it'll last much longer because it has been slow in doin'." "Oh, really, will it?" said Julia, rather taken aback. "Oh, I'm glad of that, because, of course, as it takes such a long time doing, one doesn't want to be often turned out of one's room for so long. Thank you so much. Would you like a glass of beer?" "Well, lady, a glass of beer never comes amiss to a man at the end of a hard day's work," rejoined the foreman. "Me and my mates thank you very much." So Julia called to one of the servants and ordered "Beer for these gentlemen" with a lavish air which the more frugal Regina might not have approved had she happened to be at home. Regina was, however, at that moment gracing with her dignified presence a platform devoted at that hour to the restriction of the sale of strong drinks, and the incident never came to her knowledge. "Now, Maudie," said Julia, "have you any suggestions to make?" Maudie stood looking round and round the room which was to be their especial domain. "It's awfully pretty," she said. "Well, as to suggestions, I should suggest that we get the floor done before we do anything else." "Yes. And then I suggest that we choose the chintz," said Julia. "I like cretonne better than chintz," replied Maudie. "No, cretonne is like flannelette at fourpence-ha'penny a yard--looks like the loveliest flannel, and you make up your blouse and think you have got a treasure that's going to last you for six weeks without washing. You find out your mistake in about six days, and when you send it to the wash, it comes back as rough as a badger and can never be worn more than once afterwards. No, dear girl, let us have chintz." "I suppose," said Maudie, "if you want chintz you'll have chintz." "Well, we'll go up to the High Street to-morrow morning and we'll look at both--" "Excuse me making so bold," said a voice at the door, "but if I might be allowed to speak to you ladies--" They both turned with a start. The foreman, politely pressing the back of his hand across his lips, was standing in the hall. "Well?" they said in the same breath. "If I might make so bold, ladies, as to suggest, our guv'nor is a one-er on chintzes." "Oh, really?" "Loose covers is his special'ty--his special'ty." He again passed the back of his hand across his lips. "Thank you very much for the drink, ladies. It was very welcome. If I might make so bold as to--" "You had better have another," said Julia.