"Isn't it a glorious Spring evening?" Spring? It was, of course. Everyone had been saying the spring would never come, but to-day it was very warm. Spring was here of course. Perspiring in a dusty cycling school and sitting in a hot restaurant was not spring. Spring was somewhere far away. Going to stay and talk in people's houses did not bring Spring--landscapes belonging to people were _painted_; you must be alone ... or perhaps at the Brooms. Perhaps next week-end at the Brooms would be in time for the spring; in their back garden, the watered green lawn and the sweetbriar and the distant trees in the large garden beyond the fence. In London it was better not to think about the times of year. But Mag seemed to find Spring in London. Her face was all glowing with the sense of it. "What you having?" "Have you observed with what a remarkable brilliance the tender green shines out against the soot-black branches?" Yes, that was wonderful but what was the joke? "Every spring I have spent in Lonndonn I have heard that remark at least fifty times." Miriam laughed politely. "Jan, _what_ have you ordered?" "We've ordered beef my child, cold beefs and salads." "Do you think I should like salad?" "If you _had_ a brother would he like salad?" "Do they put dressing on it? If I could have just plain lettuce." "Ask for it my child, ask and it shall be given unto thee." A waitress brought the beef and salad, two glasses with an inch of whisky in each, and a large syphon. Miriam ordered beef and potatoes. "I suppose the steak and onion days are over." "I shan't have another steak and onions, please God, until next November." Miriam laughed delightedly. "Why haven't you gone away for the week-end, child?" "I told you she wouldn't." "I don't know. I wanted to come down here." "Is that a compliment to us?" "I say, I've had a bicycle lesson." Both faces came up eagerly. "You remember; that extraordinary woman I met at the Royal Institution." The faces looked at each other. "Oh you know; I _told_ you about it--the two lessons she didn't want." "Go on my child; we remember; go on." Miriam sat eating her beef. "Go on Miriam. You've really had a lesson. I'm delighted my child. Tell us all about it." "D'you remember the extraordinary moment when you felt the machine going along; even with the man holding the handle-bars?" "You wait until there's nobody to hold the handlebars." "Have you been out alone yet?" The two faces looked at each other. "Shall we tell her?" "You _must_ tell me; es ist bestimmt in Gottes Rath." They leaned across the table and spoke low one after the other. "We went out--last night--after dark--and rode--round Russell Square--twice--in our knickers----" "_No._ Did you really? How simply heavenly." "It _was_. We came home nearly crying with rage at not being able to go about, permanently, in nothing but knickers. It would make life an _absolutely_ different thing." "The freedom of movement."