ut me. At all events no one ever tried to ameliorate my
lot."

"But you're a man, you know. . . ."

"A man can feel just as out of it as a woman. It's worse for him in
fact, for it's nobody's business to look after him."

Eloquent spoke bitterly.

"But surely since you, yourself, have suffered, you ought to be the
more sympathetic with that stout lady----"

"I will go, since you wish it; but I don't know her and she may think
it impertinent. . . ."

"I'll come too," said Mary. "_I_ don't know her but I can introduce
you . . . we'll both go."

The lady in question was stout and rubicund, with smooth,
tightly-braided brown hair, worn very flat and close to the head, and
bright observant black eyes. She wore a high black satin dress, and
had apparently been poured into it, so tight was it, so absolutely
moulded to her form. A double gold chain was arranged over her ample
bosom, and many bracelets decorated her fat wrists. She was quite
alone on the raised red seat. For the last two hours Mary had noticed
her sitting there, and that no one, apparently, ever spoke to, or came
to sit by her.

There she remained placidly watching the dancers, her plump ungloved
hands folded in her lap. She appeared rather cold for she wore no
wrap, and what with draughts and the breeze created by the dancers, the
tent was a chilly place to sit in.

Mary mounted the red baize step and sat down beside the solitary one.

"Don't you think it's time you had something to eat?" she shouted . . .
they were _so_ near the band, which at that moment was braying the
waltz song from the "Quaker Girl." The old lady beamed, but shook her
head:

"I'm very well where I am, my dear, I can see nicely and I'm glad I
came."

"But you can come back," Mary persisted. "This gentleman"--indicating
Eloquent--"will take you to have some supper, and then he'll bring you
back again just here if you like. . . . May I introduce Mr Gallup?
Mrs . . . I fear I don't know your name. . . ."

Eloquent stood below bowing stiffly, and offered his arm. The lady
stood up, chuckled, winked cheerfully at Mary, and stepped down on to
the floor.

"Well, since you _are_ so obliging," she said, and took the proffered
arm. "You don't know me, Mr Gallup," she continued, "but you will do
before the election's over. Don't look so down in the mouth, I shan't
keep you long, just a snack's all I want, and to stamp my feet a bit,
which they're uncommonly cold, and