rowned as she gave her
hand.

'I am late, but it was very difficult to get away at all.'

Miss Levering pushed towards her one of the welcoming great easy-chairs
that stood holding out cool arms and a lap of roses. The tired visitor,
with her dusty clothes and brusque manner, sat down without relaxing to
the luxurious invitation. Her stiffly maintained attitude and direct
look said as plain as print, Now what excuse have you to offer for
asking me to come here? It may have been recollection of Mrs.
Fox-Moore's fear of 'the thin end of the wedge' that made Miss Levering
smile as she said--

'Yes, I've been expecting you for the last half hour, but it's very good
of you to come at all.'

Miss Claxton looked as if she quite agreed.

'You'll have some tea?' Miss Levering was moving towards the bell.

'No, I've had my tea.'

The queer sound of 'my' tea connoting so much else! The hostess subsided
on to the sofa.

'I heard you speak the other day as I told you in my note. But all the
same I came away with several unanswered questions--questions that I
wanted to put to you quietly. As I wrote you, I am not what _you_ would
call a convert. I've only got as far as the inquiry stage.'

Miss Claxton waited.

'Still, if I take up your time, I ought not to let you be out of pocket
by it.'

The hostess glanced towards the little spindle-legged writing-table,
where, on top of a heap of notes, lay the blue oblong of a cheque-book.

'We consider it part of every day's business to answer questions,' said
Miss Claxton.

'I suppose I can make some little contribution without--without its
committing me to anything?'

'Committing you----'

'Yes; it wouldn't get into the papers,' she said, a little shamefaced,
'or--or anything like that.'

'It wouldn't get into the papers unless you put it in.'

The lady blinked. There was a little pause. She was not easy to talk
to--this young woman. Nor was she the ideal collector of contributions.

'That was a remarkable meeting you had in Hyde Park last Sunday.'

'Remarkable? Oh, no, they're all pretty much alike.'

'Do they all end like that?'

'Oh, yes; people come to scoff, and by degrees we get hold of them--even
the Hyde Park loafers.'

'I mean, do they often crowd up and try to hustle the speakers?'

'Oh, they are usually quite good-natured.'

'You handled them wonderfully.'

'We're used to dealing with crowds.'

Her look went round the room, as if to say, 'It's th