wife of the handsomest man in the world! There was all the natural awe
of the unmarried for the married girl in her voice as she said--

"It is so strange to hear you talk of your husband. You don't look a
bit married. Doesn't it feel very--queer?"

Mrs Vanburgh laughed happily.

"It feels very--nice! I have only one trouble in life, and that is that
I am too happy. Yes, seriously, it does trouble me! It's so difficult
not to grow selfish when one is always petted, and praised, and
considered first of all. I want to be of some use in the world. My
husband says I am of use to him, and of course that's my first duty, but
it's not enough. When I was married a dear old lady wrote me a letter,
and said that marriage often became `the selfishness of two,' and I do
feel that it is true. It's no credit to be good to someone who is
dearer than yourself, and giving a few subscriptions is no credit either
when you are rich; it was a very different matter when you scraped them
out of your dress allowance. I've thought over heaps of things that I
could do, and at last I've decided--sit down, and I'll tell you all
about it! This is the comfiest chair. It's so nice getting to know you
first, because you can help. Ages ago I read a story by Sir Walter
Besant, _Katherine Regina_ was the name, I think. I forget what it was
about, and all about it, except that one character was a poor governess
living in a dreary London `Home,' knowing nobody, and having absolutely
nowhere to go in her leisure hours, because of course she could not
afford entertainments. One day she had a desperately miserable fit, and
said to one of her companions--I always remembered those words--`Is
there no woman in all the length and breadth of this great city who has
a thought for us, or who cares enough for us to open the house to us for
a few hours a week?' I made up my mind then and there, that if I ever
lived in a city and had a home of my own, I would share it with homeless
people. I asked my husband if I might have an `At Home' every Saturday
afternoon, and he said I could ask everyone I liked, so long as I did
not expect him to put in an appearance. So!"--she clasped her hands
excitedly, and her eyes flashed--"this very week I drove round to three
separate Governesses' Homes and left cards of invitation--`Mrs Gervase
Vanburgh will be at home every Saturday afternoon between November 12
and December 20 from three to seven o'clock, and wil