Eve walked off to the house, chiefly conscious of the fact that there was no cake for tea. How utterly absurd it was that one should chafe over such trifles. But then, with women like Mrs. Canterton, it was necessary to have one’s pride dressed to the very last button. Two extra chairs and tea arrived. The conversation was never in danger of death when Gertrude Canterton was responsible for keeping up a babble of sound. If the other people were mute and reticent, she talked about herself and her multifarious activities. These filled all gaps. “I must say I like having tea in the garden. You are, really, most sheltered here. Sugar? No, I don’t take sugar in tea—only in coffee, thank you.” “It does rather spoil the flavour.” “We have a very exquisite tea sent straight to us from a friend of my husband’s in Ceylon. It rather spoils me, and I have got out of the way of taking sugar. How particular we become, don’t we? It is so easy to become selfish. That reminds me. I want to interest our neighbourhood in a society that has been started in London. What a problem London is.” Mrs. Carfax cooed sympathetically. “And the terrible lives the people lead. We are very interested in the poor shop girls, and we have started an organisation which we call ‘The Shop Girls’ Rest Society.’” “Eve, perhaps Mrs. Canterton will have some cake.” Eve was on edge, and full of vague feelings of defiance. “I’m sorry, there isn’t any cake.” “Eve, dear!” “Oh, please, I so rarely take cake. Bread and butter is so much more hygienic and natural. I was going to tell you that this society we have started is going to provide shop girls with country holidays.” “How very nice!” Mrs. Carfax felt that she had to coo more sweetly because of the absence of cake. “I think it is quite an inspiration. We want to get people to take a girl for a week or a fortnight and give her good food, fresh air, and a sense of homeliness. How much the home means to women.” “Everything, Mrs. Canterton. Woman’s place is the home.” “Exactly. And I was wondering, Mrs. Carfax, whether you would be prepared to help us. Of course, we shall see to it that the girls are really nice and proper persons.” The thought of the absence of cake still lingered, and Mrs. Carfax felt apologetic. “I am sure, Mrs. Canterton, I shall be glad——” Eve had grown stiffer and stiffer, watching the inevitable approach of the inevitable beggar. Gertrude Canterton had a genius for wriggling her way everywhere, even into other people’s bedrooms, and would be putting them down for ten guineas before they were half awake. “I am sorry, but I’m afraid it is out of the question.” She spoke rather brusquely, and Gertrude Canterton turned with an insinuating scoop of the chin. “Miss Carfax, do let me——” “Eve, dear, I’m sure——” Eve was stonily practical. “It is quite impossible.” “But, Eve——” “You know, mother, we haven’t a bed.” “My dear!”