second, mysteriously and pleasantly changed
from tweedy pedestrians to indoor company. They were quietly but
definitely dressed, pretty alterations had happened to their coiffure, a
silver band and deep red stones lit the dusk of Miss Grammont's hair
and a necklace of the same colourings kept the peace between her jolly
sun-burnt cheek and her soft untanned neck. It was evident her recent
uniform had included a collar of great severity. Miss Seyffert had
revealed a plump forearm and proclaimed it with a clash of bangles. Dr.
Martineau thought her evening throat much too confidential.

The conversation drifted from topic to topic. It had none of the
steady continuity of Sir Richmond's duologue with Miss Grammont. Miss
Seyffert's methods were too discursive and exclamatory. She broke every
thread that appeared. The Old George at Salisbury is really old;
it shows it, and Miss Seyffert laced the entire evening with her
recognition of the fact. "Just look at that old beam!" she would cry
suddenly. "To think it was exactly where it is before there was a Cabot
in America!"

Miss Grammont let her companion pull the talk about as she chose. After
the animation of the afternoon a sort of lazy contentment had taken
possession of the younger lady. She sat deep in a basket chair and spoke
now and then. Miss Seyffert gave her impressions of France and Italy.
She talked of the cabmen of Naples and the beggars of Amalfi.

Apropos of beggars, Miss Grammont from the depths of her chair threw out
the statement that Italy was frightfully overpopulated. "In some parts
of Italy it is like mites on a cheese. Nobody seems to be living.
Everyone is too busy keeping alive."

"Poor old women carrying loads big enough for mules," said Miss
Seyffert.

"Little children working like slaves," said Miss Grammont.

"And everybody begging. Even the people at work by the roadside. Who
ought to be getting wages--sufficient...."

"Begging--from foreigners--is just a sport in Italy," said Sir Richmond.
"It doesn't imply want. But I agree that a large part of Italy is
frightfully overpopulated. The whole world is. Don't you think so,
Martineau?"

"Well--yes--for its present social organization."

"For any social organization," said Sir Richmond.

"I've no doubt of it," said Miss Seyffert, and added amazingly: "I'm out
for Birth Control all the time."

A brief but active pause ensued. Dr. Martineau in a state of sudden
distress attempted to drink