de.

Rosalind went on. "Miss Maud Blackadder--"

Miss Blackadder's curt bow accused Rosalind of wasting time in
meaningless formalities.

"Miss--" Rosalind was at a loss.

The other girl, the youngest of the eight, came forward, holding out a
slender, sallow-white hand. She was the one who had hung with Miss
Blackadder in the background.

"Desmond," she said. "Phyllis Desmond."

She shrugged her pretty shoulders and smiled slightly, as much as to
say, "She forgets what she ought to remember, but it doesn't matter."

Phyllis Desmond was beautiful. But for the moment her beauty was asleep,
stilled into hardness. Dorothy saw a long, slender, sallow-white face,
between sleek bands of black hair; black eyes, dulled as if by a subtle
film, like breath on a black looking-glass; a beautiful slender mouth,
pressed tight, holding back the secret of its sensual charm.

Dorothy thought she had seen her before, but she couldn't remember
where.

Rosalind Jervis looked at her watch with a businesslike air; paper and
pencils were produced; coats were thrown on the little school-desks and
benches in the corner where Dorothy and her brothers had sat at their
lessons with Mr. Parsons some twelve years ago; and the eight gathered
about the big table, Rosalind taking the presidential chair (which had
once been Mr. Parsons' chair) in the centre between Miss Gilchrist and
Miss Blackadder.

Miss Burstall and Miss Farmer looked at each other and Miss Burstall
spoke.

"We understood that this was to be an informal meeting. Before we begin
business I should like to ask one question. I should like to know what
we are and what we are here for?"

"We, Mrs. Eden, Miss Valentina Gilchrist, Miss Maud Blackadder and
myself," said Rosalind in the tone of one dealing reasonably with an
unreasonable person, "are the Committee of the North Hampstead Branch of
the Women's Franchise Union. Miss Gilchrist is our secretary, I am the
President and Miss Blackadder is--er--the Committee."

"By whom elected? This," said Miss Burstall, "is most irregular."

Rosalind went on: "We are here to appoint a vice-president, to elect
members of the Committee and enlist subscribers to the Union. These
things will take time."

"_We_ were punctual," said Miss Farmer.

Rosalind did not even look at her. The moment had come to address the
meeting.

"I take it that we are all agreed as to the main issue, that we have not
come here to convert each other, that