ntly, and we'll have tea. I bought some lovely cakes from
Buzzard's. Always make a bit of a splash on my at-home afternoons, you
know, for it's the only entertaining I do. I'm in digs here, and very
bad they are, too. But what can one do? They don't send for me at the
Albert Hall, dear. It's a shame, for I could do ever so much better
than some of those old, worn-out things who only trade on a name. My
voice is fresh, and a jolly good one, too, though I say it myself.
Where are _you_ living, dear? In this neighbourhood?"

Philippa replied. Hope was too disappointed, too cast down, to be able
to speak. Miss Caldecott had seemed so pleased; the song had sounded so
charming from her lips. At one minute acceptance had seemed certain; at
the next the subject was waved aside, and apparently dismissed from
consideration. She pressed her lips together and stared at the
mantelpiece, with its bank of chrysanthemums in cream-jars, its
photographs of becurled beauties. Philippa was talking about the flat,
and removal expenses generally, and Miss Caldecott was lavishing floods
of sympathy upon her, and abuse upon those who had disappointed or
thwarted her plans.

"Wretched, good-for-nothing things, the pack of them! But you are so
near Maple's. Why don't you go to Maple and let him do the whole thing?
Expense! Bills! Oh, bother bills! You can let them run, you know.
_I_ do! If I want a thing I get it, and think about the bill
afterwards. Do you like this tea-gown? I bought it at the autumn
sales. Such a bargain! I have to spend a fortune in clothes. What
would you advise me to get for this winter, for really swell affairs,
you know? I go to a good many private receptions. I got some patterns
this morning. I look so huge in white! What would you think of
yellow--eh? Blue is so ordinary."

"Really, I--really, I don't know." Philippa thought it was better to
laugh outright than in a covert manner, so she laughed as she spoke, and
Miss Caldecott joined in the strain with the greatest good-humour.

"I'm sure you have good taste, dear; you look so stylish. I never wear
black myself; it makes me doleful. I do get doleful sometimes, though
you wouldn't think it. I live all alone, and sometimes business gets so
slack. I get plenty of suburban work, but I don't come to the front
somehow. Can't think why. My voice is far better than that Marah
Bryce's, whom they all rave about nowadays. Have you heard he