_Mrs. Rossiter_: "I suppose you are the Miss Warren who speaks so
much. I often see your name in the papers, especially in _Votes for
Women_ that the Professor takes in. Isn't it funny that a man should
care so much about women getting the vote? I'm sure _I_ don't want
it. I'm _quite_ content to exercise _my_ influence through _him_,
especially now he's in Parliament. But then I have my home to look
after, and I'm _much_ too busy to go out and about and mix myself up
in politics. I'm quite content to leave all that to the menfolk."

_Vivie_: "Quite so. In your position no doubt I should do the same;
but you see I haven't any menfolk. There is my mother, but she
prefers to live abroad, and as she is comfortably off she can employ
servants to look after her." (This hint of wealth a little reassured
Mrs. Rossiter, who believed most Suffragettes to be adventuresses.)
"So, as I have no ties I prefer to give myself up to the service of
women in general. When they have the vote and other privileges of
men, then of course I can attend to my private interests and
pursuits--mathematical calculations, insurance risks--"

_Mrs. Rossiter_: "It is _extraordinary_ how like your voice is to
your cousin's. If I shut my eyes I could think he was back again.
Not," (she added hastily) "that he has not, no doubt, _plenty_ to do
abroad. Do you ever see him now? Why does he not marry and settle
down? One never hears of him now as a barrister. But then he used to
_feel_ his cases too much. The last time he was here he fainted and
had to stay here all night.

"And yet he had won his case and got his--what do you say? client?
off--I dare say you remember it? She was my husband's cousin though
we hardly liked to say so at the time: it is so unpleasant having a
murder in the family. Fortunately she was let off; I mean, the jury
said 'not guilty,' though personally I--However that is neither here
nor there, and since then she's married Colonel Kesteven--Won't you
have some pheasant? No? I remember your cousin used to have a very
poor appetite, especially when one of his cases was on. _How_ he
used--excuse my saying so--how he used to tire poor Michael--Mr.
Rossiter! Talk, talk, talk! in the evenings, and I knew the
Professor had his lectures to prepare, but hints were thrown away on
Mr. David."

Rossiter broke in:

"Now what would you like to do in the afternoon, Miss Warren? And
Gardner? You, by the bye, have the first claim on our hospi