npleasant aspects of life, so
much so that she wondered whether there were any other. She felt now
that London was waiting for her outside, waiting for her to have spent
her last copper, when she would come out to be eaten so that she might
eat.

Whatever her conceit might have been six months before, Victoria had
lost it all. She could do nothing that was wanted and desired everything
she could not get. She had tried all sources and found them dry.
Commercialism, philanthropy, and five per cent. philanthropy had failed
her. What can you do? was their cry. And, the answer being 'nothing,'
their retort had been 'No more can we.'

Victoria turned over in her mind her interview with the Honorary
Secretary of the British Women's Imperial Self Help Association. 'Of
course,' said the Secretary, 'we will be glad to register you. We need
some references and, as our principle is to foster the independence and
self-respect of those whom we endeavour to place in positions such as
may befit their social status, we are compelled to demand a fee of five
shillings.'

'Oh, self help, I see,' said Victoria sardonically, for she was
beginning to understand the world.

'Yes,' replied the Honorary Secretary, oblivious of the sneer, for his
mind was cast in the parliamentary mould, 'by adhering to our principle
and by this means only can we hope to stem the tide of pauperism to
which modern socialistic tendencies are--are--spurring the masses.'
Victoria had paid five shillings for this immortal metaphor and within a
week had received an invitation to attend a meeting presided over by
several countesses.

The B. W. I. S. H. A., (as it was called by its intimates) had induced
in Victoria suspicions of societies in general. She had, however,
applied also to the Ladies' Provider. Its name left one in doubt whether
it provided ladies with persons or whether it provided ladies to persons
who might not be ladies. The Secretary in this case, was not Honorary.
The inwardness of this did not appear to Victoria; for she did not then
know that plain secretaries are generally paid, and try to earn their
salary. Their interview had, however, not been such as to convert her to
the value of corporate effort.

The Secretary in this case was a woman of forty, with a pink face, trim
grey hair, spectacles, amorphous clothing, capable hands. She exhaled an
atmosphere of respectability, and the faint odour of almonds which
emanates from those women who e