an instant impression of size, teeth and volubility as Miss
Martin shook hands and expressed her pleasure at finding Mrs. Rose at
home.

The next thing to do was obviously to provide chairs for the guests, and
this Toni did, with the help of Barry, who appeared to be on fairly
friendly terms with the two ladies; and once again Toni turned her
attention to filling teacups.

Fanny, who had been somewhat overlooked during the last strenuous
moments, was relieved to hear herself addressed in a friendly tone by
Miss Lynn, who felt sorry for the girl, so obviously ill-at-ease; and in
return for the kindly attention Fanny eagerly handed Olive the dish of
shrimps with an invitation to "try some."

Olive Lynn, who had possibly never met these small creatures in their
native armour before, hesitated, casting a look at Barry at the same
moment; but he was engaged in handing Lady Martin some bread and butter;
and Olive's appeal went unanswered.

Taking Miss Lynn's silence for consent, and being really anxious to help
Toni by making her guests eat a good tea, Fanny eagerly piled her
neighbour's plate with shrimps; and at that moment Lady Martin first
discovered what plebeian dishes the table held.

Ignoring Barry and his bread and butter, she put up her lorgnette and
deliberately scrutinized the heap of pink shrimps which Fanny, pleased
with her success, was just pushing across to Miss Martin. For a second
her ladyship was speechless; then, as her daughter turned a haughty
stare upon the officious commoner, Lady Martin spoke.

"I think, Lucretia, you had better leave those--er--shellfish alone. I
understand there is always a danger of ptomaine poisoning with such
things."

Toni dropped a lump of sugar with a clatter on the tray and turned
scarlet. Lady Martin's tone was so deliberately offensive, her manner so
disagreeable, that Toni felt like a chidden schoolgirl; and again the
enormity of her social mistake swept over her, rendering her quite
incapable of making any reply to the attack.

But rescue was at hand. Barry, who from the first had felt a chivalrous
interest in his friend's wife, had seen the colour sweep into her face,
and had determined that the Martins, mother and daughter, should not
exercise their well-known prerogative of snubbing any woman who did not
boast a title.

It is true that Lady Martin was the wife of a soap manufacturer,
knighted for services to his party; and both sprang from a very humble
c