ympathy. "We understand each
other, you and I!" it seemed to say. "This is only a pretence. The
_real_ business will begin when we are alone, but--_don't I do it
well_?" Betty twinkled back, and was content to wait her turn, knowing
that it would surely come.

Yes, Mrs Vanburgh said, she and her husband had only lately returned to
their town house. They had a little place in the country, and spent a
great deal of time with an old uncle who was an invalid, and very fond
of young society. No! She did not care for town life, but for her
husband's sake she made the best of it for a few months in the year.
The days seemed very long when one was obliged to turn on the lights
before four o'clock. Oh yes, she was fond of reading--sometimes! But
one seemed to need some more active occupation. She did a good deal of
wood-carving. Did Miss Trevor go in for wood-carving? Would she care
to take it up? It would be so very nice to have a companion, and all
the tools were lying in readiness just across the road.

"Thank you so much. I'd love it!" cried Betty, all pink with excitement
and pleasure. "I take a few classes still--music and French--but my
afternoons are mostly free. I could come any time."

"To-day?" queried the pretty lady, raising her pretty eyebrows eagerly.
"Now? Come back with me and have tea, and I'll show you my carvings,
and you can decide what you will try first."

It was all very irregular and unconventional, because, of course, the
proper thing would have been for Mrs Vanburgh to have waited quietly
until Mrs Trevor had returned her call, and even for a judicious period
after that, before sending a formal invitation. Nevertheless Mrs
Trevor had not the heart to interfere. She remembered her own youth,
and the rapture which it had then afforded her to be able to do things
_at once_; she saw the radiance in Betty's face, and realised that her
visitor was only a girl herself, so that when Betty turned towards her a
flushed, appealing face, she smiled indulgently, and said, "Certainly,
dear! It is very kind of Mrs Vanburgh to ask you. Run upstairs and
put on your hat."

Betty lost no time in taking advantage of this permission, and in ten
minutes' time the extraordinary thing came to pass, that she and the
pretty lady were walking along the Square, chatting together as if they
had been friends of years' standing.

Mrs Vanburgh paused upon the threshold to give some instructions to the
serv