various inefficient maids and this, added to the strain of her own
professional work, had brought her at one time to the verge of a
break-down in health.

"I'd no idea you were so strong on domestic matters, Penelope," chaffed
St. John, smiling across at her.

"I'm not. But I've got common sense, and I can see that if the small
wheels of the machine refuse to turn, the big wheels are bound to stick."

"If only servants knew how much one liked and respected a really good
maid!" murmured Nan with a recrudescence of idealism.

"Do wages make any difference?" ventured St. John somewhat timidly.
Penelope was rather forcible when the spirit moved her, and he was
becoming conscious of the fact that he was a mere ignorant man.

"Of course they do--to a certain extent," she replied.

"Money makes a difference to most things, doesn't it?"

"There are one or two things it can't taint," he answered quietly, but
now you've really brought me to the very object of my visit."

"I thought it was a desire to enquire after the health of your favourite
niece," hazarded Nan impertinently.

"So it was. And as finance plays a most important part in that affair,
the matter dovetails exactly!"