he other with a long, careful look.

"How comfortable this is!" Marie observed.

"Is it, dear?" said Julia. "Lean back and rest. You look tired. Been
shopping?"

"Just a few things for the children; I take the opportunity of being
in town, you know."

"Did you come up this morning?"

"Yes, before lunch. Mother's staying in the flat with the children."

"How are they all--your big family of three?"

"Awf'ly well, thank you. Baby's got a tooth."

"How splendid! I just must come and see her again. And Georgie?"

"George has grown a lot since you saw him last. I've been hunting
about for a little jersey suit for him; they're all so expensive; I'll
have to knit one myself."

"My dear girl! When do you get time to knit jersey suits?"

"In the evenings, when dinner is over. There's always an hour or so
before bedtime, you know."

After a short silence, Julia asked: "I suppose you _have_
lunched, dear? Otherwise I'll order sandwiches."

"I've lunched, thank you."

"Met your husband, I suppose?"

"N--no. I had something, quickly, at Swan and Edgar's. I was in a
hurry."

Julia signalled a waitress serving tea at the other end of the vast
room. "The usual tea," she ordered, "_and_ sandwiches."

Marie leaned back against her cushion restfully. She had the slow
glance of a woman much preoccupied, whose mind comes very heavily back
to matters not of her immediate concern. She went on for a little
while talking of the topics which filled her brain to the exclusion of
all else.

"We're thinking of sending George to a day school soon--at least, I
am. I've not spoken of it to Osborn yet; there hasn't been a chance."

"How do you mean--no chance? I thought married people lived together."

"Oh, well ... you don't understand. One has to make an opportunity;
get a man into the right mood. He won't like the expense, of course,
though it's only a guinea and a half a term, if you send them till
mid-day only. That would do at first, don't you think? I don't believe
in pushing children. Still, a guinea and a half a term is four and a
half guineas a year. Well, I can't help it, can I? He'll _have_
to go to school soon, there's no doubt of that. He's getting too much
for me, and it would be a great help, having him out of the way in the
mornings, while I'm doing my work."

"I think it would be a very good plan, darling," Julia replied.

"I know you'd agree with me about it. I shall tell Osborn you think
it's a good plan