take it away from her. She hasn't got to be playing it for
twenty-four hours a day. I'd like you to have seen your mother's
Cordelia."

Flossie was tacking her way towards them. Joan acted on impulse. "I
wish you'd give me your address," she said "where I could write to you.
Or perhaps you would not mind my coming and seeing you one day. I would
like you to tell me more about my mother."

He gave her his address in Paris where he was returning almost
immediately.

"Do come," he said. "It will take me back thirty-three years. I
proposed to your mother on La Grande Terrasse at St. Germain. We will
walk there. I'm still a bachelor." He laughed, and, kissing her hand,
allowed himself to be hauled away by Flossie, in exchange for Mrs.
Phillips, for whom Miss Lavery had insisted on an invitation.

Joan had met Mrs. Phillips several times; and once, on the stairs, had
stopped and spoken to her; but had never been introduced to her formally
till now.

"We have been meaning to call on you so often," panted Mrs. Phillips. The
room was crowded and the exertion of squeezing her way through had winded
the poor lady. "We take so much interest in your articles. My husband--"
she paused for a second, before venturing upon the word, and the aitch
came out somewhat over-aspirated--"reads them most religiously. You must
come and dine with us one evening."

Joan answered that she would be very pleased.

"I will find out when Robert is free and run up and let you know," she
continued. "Of course, there are so many demands upon him, especially
during this period of national crisis, that I spare him all the social
duties that I can. But I shall insist on his making an exception in your
case."

Joan murmured her sense of favour, but hoped she would not be allowed to
interfere with more pressing calls upon Mr. Phillips's time.

"It will do him good," answered Mrs. Phillips; "getting away from them
all for an hour or two. I don't see much of him myself."

She glanced round and lowered her voice. "They tell me," she said, "that
you're a B.A."

"Yes," answered Joan. "One goes in for it more out of vanity, I'm
afraid, than for any real purpose that it serves."

"I took one or two prizes myself," said Mrs. Phillips. "But, of course,
one forgets things. I was wondering if you would mind if I ran up
occasionally to ask you a question. Of course, as you know, my 'usband
'as 'ad so few advantages"--the lady's mind w