wn. Kate, of course, had only been on the fringe; she
used to be asked only to the big parties, not to the small ones, and
she still was only on the fringe. There were some people who never got
off the fringe, and Kate was one. Often, however, such people were
more permanently agreeable to be with than the others, in that they
remained grateful.

Yes; she might really consider Kate. The poor soul had never
married, but then everybody could not expect to marry, and she was
quite comfortably off--not too comfortably, but just comfortably enough
to pay her own expenses if she came and yet be grateful. Yes; Kate was
the solution. If she came, at one stroke, Mrs. Fisher saw, would the
Wilkinses be regularized and Mrs. Wilkins be prevented from having more
than her share of the rooms. Also, Mrs. Fisher would save herself from
isolation; spiritual isolation. She desired physical isolation between
meals, but she disliked that isolation which is of the spirit. Such
isolation would, she feared, certainly be hers with these three
alien-minded young women. Even Mrs. Arbuthnot was, owing to her
friendship with Mrs. Wilkins, necessarily alien-minded. In Kate she
would have a support. Kate, without intruding on her sitting-room, for
Kate was tractable, would be there at meals to support her.

Mrs. Fisher said nothing at the moment; but presently in the
drawing-room, when they were gathered round the wood fire--she had
discovered there was no fireplace in her own sitting-room, and
therefore she would after all be forced, so long as the evenings
remained cool, to spend them in the other room--presently, while
Francesca was handing coffee round and Lady Caroline was poisoning the
air with smoke, Mrs. Wilkins, looking relieved and pleased, said:
"Well, if nobody really wants that room, and wouldn't use it anyhow, I
shall be very glad if Mellersh may have it."

"Of course he must have it," said Lady Caroline.

Then Mrs. Fisher spoke.

"I have a friend," she said in her deep voice; and sudden silence
fell upon the others.

"Kate Lumley," said Mrs. Fisher.

Nobody spoke.

"Perhaps," continued Mrs. Fisher, addressing Lady Caroline, "you
know her?"

No, Lady Caroline did not know Kate Lumley; and Mrs. Fisher,
without asking the others if they did, for she was sure they knew no
one, proceeded. "I wish to invite her to join me," said Mrs. Fisher.

Complete silence.

Then Scrap said, turning to Mrs. Wilkins, "That sett