_love_ to come. Wasn't it her business
to study out-of-the-way types? Mr. Roper produced a knowing sort of
engagement--"I'm provided for already, Lady Beach-Mandarin," he said,
and the cousins from Perth had to do some shopping.

"Then we three will be the expedition," said the hostess. "And
afterwards if we survive we'll tell you our adventures. It's a house on
Putney Hill, isn't it, where this Christian maiden, so to speak, is held
captive? I've had her in my mind, but I've always intended to call with
Agatha Alimony; she's so inspiring to down-trodden women."

"Not exactly down-trodden," said Mr. Brumley, "not down-trodden. That's
what's so curious about it."

"And what shall we do when we get there?" cried Lady Beach-Mandarin. "I
feel we ought to do something more than call. Can't we carry her off
right away, Mr. Brumley? I want to go right in to her and say 'Look
here! I'm on your side. Your husband's a tyrant. I'm help and rescue.
I'm all that a woman ought to be--fine and large. Come out from under
that unworthy man's heel!'"

"Suppose she isn't at all the sort of person you seem to think she is,"
said Miss Sharsper. "And suppose she came!"

"Suppose she didn't," reflected Mr. Roper.

"I seem to see your flight," said Mr. Toomer. "And the newspaper
placards and head-lines. 'Lady Beach-Mandarin elopes with the wife of an
eminent confectioner. She is stopped at the landing stage by the staff
of the Dover Branch establishment. Recapture of the fugitive after a hot
struggle. Brumley, the eminent _litterateur_, stunned by a spent
bun....'"

"We're all talking great nonsense," said Lady Beach-Mandarin. "But
anyhow we'll make our call. And _I_ know!--I'll make her accept an
invitation to lunch without him."

"If she won't?" threw out Mr. Roper.

"I _will_," said Lady Beach-Mandarin with roguish determination. "And if
I can't----"

"Not ask him too!" protested Mr. Brumley.

"Why not get her to come to your Social Friends meeting," said Miss
Sharsper.

Sec.2

When Mr. Brumley found himself fairly launched upon this expedition he
had the grace to feel compunction. The Harmans, he perceived, had
inadvertently made him the confidant of their domestic discords and to
betray them to these others savoured after all of treachery. And besides
much as he had craved to see Lady Harman again, he now realized he
didn't in the least want to see her in association with the exuberant
volubility of Lady Beach-Mandarin