the International
girls for ever.

Even Mrs. Pembrose couldn't follow Sir Isaac in that, and remarked: "As
I understand it, the whole intention was to provide proper housing for
our own people first and foremost."

"And haven't we provided it, _damn_ them?" said Sir Isaac in white
desperation....

It was Lady Harman who steered the newly launched institutions through
these first entanglements. It was her first important advantage in the
struggle that had hitherto been going relentlessly against her. She now
displayed her peculiar gift, a gift that indeed is unhappily all too
rare among philanthropists, the gift of not being able to classify the
people with whom she was dealing, but of continuing to regard them as a
multitude of individualized souls as distinct and considerable as
herself. That makes no doubt for slowness and "inefficiency" and
complexity in organization, but it does make for understandings. And
now, through a little talk with Susan Burnet about her sister's attitude
upon the dispute, she was able to take the whole situation in the flank.

Like many people who are not easily clear, Lady Harman when she was
clear acted with very considerable decision, which was perhaps none the
less effective because of the large softnesses of her manner.

She surprised Sir Isaac by coming of her own accord into his study,
where with an altogether novel disfavour he sat contemplating the
detailed plans for the Sydenham Hostel. "I think I've found out what the
trouble is," she said.

"What trouble?"

"About my hostel."

"How do you know?"

"I've been finding out what the girls are saying."

"They'd say anything."

"I don't think they're clever enough for that," said Lady Harman after
consideration. She recovered her thread. "You see, Isaac, they've been
frightened by the Rules. I didn't know you had printed a set of Rules."

"One must _have_ rules, Elly."

"In the background," she decided. "But you see these Rules--were made
conspicuous. They were printed in two colours on wall cards just exactly
like that list of rules and scale of fines you had to withdraw----"

"I know," said Sir Isaac, shortly.

"It reminded the girls. And that circular that seems to threaten them if
they don't give up their lodgings and come in. And the way the front is
got up to look just exactly like one of the refreshment-room
branches--it makes them feel it will be un-homelike, and that there will
be a kind of repetition in the