ooms upstairs came individually to Gertie and said, "Look here, miss!
If ever you have any difficulty or awk'ardness or anything of the kind
with the other chaps, just give the word, and I'll put it all right."

Bunny, for the preservation of friendship, went down on the birthday
party list, and Miss Radford (who had not been seen for some time) and
two girls (formerly at school with Gertie, and then known as a couple
of terrors, but now grown tall and distinguished, and doing well in a
notable shop in Westbourne Grove), and, of course, Mr. Trew, and two
friends of Bulpert's, whom he guaranteed capable of keeping any party
on the go. Mrs. Mills checked the names, expressed satisfaction.

"I was half afraid," she said, "you'd want to send a note to that young
gentleman who lives near where I was brought up."

"If he came here," replied the girl steadily, "I should only fall in
love with him again, and that would complicate matters."

"I think you're wise," approved Mrs. Mills.

A charwoman from Sale Street came in to scrub floors, to see to
fireplaces, and to renovate apartments generally--a slow worker, on
account of some affection of the heart, but an uncommonly good talker.
When human intercourse failed she addressed articles of furniture,
asking them how much they cost originally, and, sarcastically, whether
they were under the impression that they looked as good as new; to some
she gave the assurance that if she were to meet them at a jumble sale,
she would pass by without a second glance. The charwoman suggested, at
the completion of her task, and rolling up her square mat with the care
of one belonging to an Oriental sect, that her help should be engaged
for the party; Mrs. Mills replied that if they required help, some one
of more active methods and of less years would be approached.

"Right you are!" she said, taking her money from the counter. "In that
case, I'll send along my Sarah."

To suit the young hostess, and to meet the convenience of one or two of
the guests, the party began at an hour that was quite fashionably late.
Miss Radford came early, excusing herself for this breach of decorum on
the grounds that it made her painfully nervous to enter a room when
strangers were present; apart from which, to arrive in good time meant
that one had a chance of looking at oneself in the mirror. Did Gertie
consider that her (Miss Radford's) complexion was showing signs of
going off? A lady friend, who, f