nce apiece, he says. What a price to give for a
towel! But I learn housekeeping like this, and Cecco will delight in all
the economies I shall make. Quick, to the draper's, lest there should be
no towels left."

In spite of Figgis's list, the Contessa's shopping was soon over, and
Miss Mapp having seen her as far as the corner, walked on, as if to her
own house, in order to give her time to get to Mr. Wyse's, and then fled
back to the High Street. The suspense was unbearable: she had to know
without delay when and where Diva and the Contessa had played bridge
yesterday. Never had her eye so rapidly scanned the movement of
passengers in that entrancing thoroughfare in order to pick Diva out,
and learn from her precisely what had happened.... There she was, coming
out of the dyer's with her basket completely filled by a bulky package,
which it needed no ingenuity to identify as the late crimson-lake. She
would have to be pleasant with Diva, for much as that perfidious woman
might enjoy telling her where this furtive bridge-party had taken place,
she might enjoy even more torturing her with uncertainty. Diva could, if
put to it, give no answer whatever to a direct question, but, skilfully
changing the subject, talk about something utterly different.

"The crimson-lake," said Miss Mapp, pointing to the basket. "Hope it
will turn out well, dear."

There was rather a wicked light in Diva's eyes.

"Not crimson-lake," she said. "Jet-black."

"Sweet of you to have it dyed again, dear Diva," said Miss Mapp. "Not
very expensive, I trust?"

"Send the bill in to you, if you like," said Diva.

Miss Mapp laughed very pleasantly.

"That would be a good joke," she said. "How nice it is that the dear
Contessa takes so warmly to our Tilling ways. So amusing she was about
the commissions Figgis had given her. But a wee bit satirical, do you
think?"

This ought to put Diva in a good temper, for there was nothing she liked
so much as a few little dabs at somebody else. (Diva was not very
good-natured.)

"She is rather satirical," said Diva.

"Oh, tell me some of her amusing little speeches!" said Miss Mapp
enthusiastically. "I can't always follow her, but you are so quick! A
little coarse too, at times, isn't she? What she said the other night
when she was playing Patience, about the queens and kings, wasn't
quite--was it? And the toothpick."

"Yes. Toothpick," said Diva.

"Perhaps she has bad teeth," said Miss Mapp; "it run