Harriet stretched out an indolent hand. "There, there," she said soothingly, "I'm very pleased indeed with the flowers; come and be kissed." Milly raised scoffing eyes to the ceiling. She made her mouth into a round O, and proceeded to blow smoke rings. "Let me know when it's all over," she said derisively, "and then we'll boil the kettle." "You can boil it now," said Harriet, waving Rosie back to her foot-stool. They proceeded to make tea and toast bread in front of the fire. Milly fetched some rather weary butter and a pot of "Gentleman's Relish" from the bedroom, and Rosie produced her contribution in the shape of a bag of Harriet's favourite cream puffs. She had gone without lunch for two days in order to afford this offering, but as Harriet's strong teeth bit into the billowy cream which oozed out over her chin, Rosie's heart swelled with pleasure; she had her reward. "_Méchante enfant_!" exclaimed Harriet, shaking her finger, "you mustn't spend your money like this!" At that moment the door opened and Joan and Elizabeth walked into the room. "Good Lord, _you_!" exclaimed Milly in amazement. They laughed and came forward, waiting to be introduced. "Oh, yes; Harriet, this is my sister Joan, and this is Miss Rodney." Harriet nodded casually. "This is Rosie Wilmot, Joan; Rosie, Miss Rodney." Rosie shook hands with a close, intense grip. Her eyes interrogated the new-comers as though they alone held the answer to the riddle of her Universe. Milly dragged up the only remaining chair for Elizabeth. "You can squat on the floor, Joan," she said, throwing her sister a cushion. "That's right. And now, what on earth are you doing here?" It was Elizabeth who answered. "We've come up for a fortnight. We're staying with the woman who has my flat." "But why? Has anything happened?" "No, of course not. We just thought it would be rather fun." Milly whistled softly; however, she refrained from further comment. Harriet was examining Joan. Joan fidgeted; this self-possessed young woman made her feel at a disadvantage. "You're musical too?" inquired the singer, still staring. "Oh, no, not a bit; I don't know one note from another." "_Tiens_! Then what _do_ you do?" Joan hesitated. "At the present moment, nothing." Harriet turned to Elizabeth. "And you?" she inquired. "I feel sure you must do something; you look it." "I? Oh, I teach Joan." Milly fidgeted with the tea things; the unexpected arrivals necessitated more hot water. Her sister's sudden appearance with Elizabeth made her vaguely uneasy. How on earth had these two managed to escape, and what did this escape portend? Would it, could it possibly affect her in any way? And they seemed so calm about it; Joan apparently took it as a matter of course that she should come up to London for a fortnight's spree. Milly felt incapable of boiling the kettle again; she poured out some tepid tea and handed it to her sister. "Is Mother all alone?" she inquired.