"Ah!" exclaimed Elsie April. "But we didn't belong to the Movement then! We didn't know.... Come now, Mr. Machin. Sir John Pilgrim will of course be a great draw. But even if you've got him and manage to stick to him, we should beat you. You'll never get the audience you want if you don't change from Wednesday week. After all, the number of people who count in London is very small. And we've got nearly all of them. You've no idea--" "I won't change from Wednesday week," said Edward Henry. This defiance of her put him into an extremely agitated felicity. "Now, my dear Mr. Machin--" He was acutely aware of the charm she was exerting, and yet he discovered that he could easily withstand it. "Now, my dear Miss April, please don't try to take advantage of your beauty!" She sat up. She was apparently measuring herself and him. "Then you won't change the day, truly?" Her urbanity was in no wise impaired. "I won't," he laughed lightly. "I daresay you aren't used to people like me, Miss April." (She might get the better of Seven Sachs, but not of him, Edward Henry Machin from the Five Towns!) "Marrier!" said he, suddenly, with a bluff, humorous downrightness, "you know you're in a very awkward position here, and you know you've got to see Alloyd for me before six o'clock. Be off with you. I will be responsible for Miss April." ("I'll show these Londoners!" he said to himself. "It's simple enough when you once get into it.") And he did in fact succeed in dismissing Mr. Marrier, after the latter had talked Azure business with Miss April for a couple of minutes. "I must go too," said Elsie, imperturbable, impenetrable. "One moment," he entreated, and masterfully signalled Marrier to depart. After all he was paying the fellow three pounds a week. She watched Marrier thread his way out. Already she had put on her gloves. "I must go," she repeated; her rich red lips then closed definitely. "Have you a motor here?" Edward Henry asked. "No." "Then if I may I'll see you home." "You may," she said, gazing full at him. Whereby he was somewhat startled and put out of countenance. V "Are we friends?" he asked roguishly. "I hope so," she said, with no diminution of her inscrutability.