Mrs. Anstey, feeling to the full the insolence of this cross-examination, attempted to come to the rescue; but Lady Martin stood waiting so obviously for an answer that Toni felt constrained to reply. "No, Lady Martin. My cousin is not a governess." "No?" Lady Martin, who had the lust for cruelty inherent in all mean natures, pressed the point ruthlessly. "Then--I hardly see ... in the summer one does not work unless one is a private secretary or something of that sort; and I am sure your cousin"--with a pointed smile--"did not look in the _very least_ like a private secretary!" Suddenly Toni lost her head and her temper together. "My cousin is no one's secretary, Lady Martin. She is in a shop--Brown and Evans, drapers, of Brixton; and she is not here to-day because Thursday is the early-closing day for the shops, and this is only Tuesday!" There was a short silence. Even Lady Martin felt uncomfortable, for though she had literally goaded the girl into speech she did not enjoy the spectacle of Toni's flashing eyes and scarlet cheeks, nor the expression of mingled contempt and compassion on Mrs. Anstey's face--the contempt, as she very well knew, being intended for her, the compassion for Toni. The moment she had spoken Toni knew what she had done; that besides losing her temper and behaving in an ill-bred way she had given a handle to her enemies; and the tears were perilously near her eyes, though pride forbade her to let them fall. It was Cynthia Peach who came to the rescue. "How awfully jolly for your cousin," she said plaintively. "I've always longed to go into a shop! The girls have such a good time--and they meet heaps of young men! Not like us poor things who hardly ever see one!" Her evident sincerity relieved the situation. Her sister might murmur "Oh, _Toby_!" under her breath, and Lady Martin might sneer, but Mrs. Anstey patted the speaker's arm with a very kindly smile. "Poor little Cynthia! I shall have to scour the neighbourhood for young men and give a party," she said. "I'd no idea you were so forlorn!" "Well, there aren't many, really," conceded the elder Toby. "And I know what Cynthia means! That's why she was so pleased to come and sell flowers!" "And you are all neglecting your duties shamefully, my dears!" Mrs. Anstey moved aside to allow a batch of customers to approach the stall. "I mustn't stay here chattering. You will come and have tea with me, won't you, Mrs. Rose?" She turned to Toni, who was now as white as one of her own lilies. "I will look for you at five in the tent--you will be able to get off by then!" She smiled kindly at the girl as she moved away. Lady Martin had already gone, feeling, no doubt, that the weight of public opinion was against her; and as a rush of business just then overwhelmed the flower-sellers, Toni had no time to dwell upon the recent little scene.