t I had nearly forgotten what I came to see you about.
It's--well, I wanted to ask----"

"I think I can _guess_, Lady Harriet," put in Mrs. Stimpson, as her
visitor paused for a second. "I've heard of your difficulties about
getting players for the Pageant, and I'm sure I, and indeed _all_ the
family, would feel only too honoured."

"It's most kind of you," Lady Harriet interrupted, rising, "but--but
that isn't why I've troubled you. It's only that I'm thinking of
engaging Jane Saunders as house-parlourmaid, and she tells me she was in
your service, so I called to ask about her character, don't you know."

For a moment Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson wished she had been less
precipitate, but she soon recognised that no real harm had been done.
"Saunders?" she said, "yes, she left me last month. Do sit down again,
dear Lady Harriet, and I'll give you all the information I possibly can.
Well, when that girl first came, she had everything to learn. It was
quite evident she'd never been in service before with gentlefolks.
Actually brought in letters in her _fingers_, Lady Harriet, and knocked
at sitting-room doors! And _no_ notion of cleaning silver, and I like to
see mine come up to table without a speck! However, after being with me
for a while, she improved, and I can conscientiously say that she became
quite competent in time. That is, for a household like _ours_, you know,
where things are done in quite an unpretentious style."

"I don't think we are at all pretentious people either," said Lady
Harriet, rising once more. "And now, Mrs. Stimpson, you have told me all
I wanted to know, so I must tear myself away."

"Must you _really_ be going? Well, Lady Harriet, I've _so_ much enjoyed
our little chat. There are so few persons in a semi-suburban
neighbourhood like this, with whom one can have anything in common. So I
shall hope to see more of you in future. And if," she added, after
ringing for Mitchell, "I _should_ find I've forgotten anything I ought
to have told you about Saunders, I can easily pop in some morning." Lady
Harriet hastened to assure her that she must not think of giving herself
this trouble--after which she took her leave.

"Rather an amusing experience in its way," she was thinking. "Something
to tell Joan when I get back. But oh! _what_ an appalling woman! She's
settled _one_ thing, though. It will be quite impossible to take Jane
Saunders _now_. A pity--because I rather liked the girl's looks!"

Meanw