luck."

"I thought you'd got money."

He hesitated, and then said, "I must get my foot on the ladder,
then."

Ansell began with, "On which ladder?" but Mrs. Lewin, using the
privilege of her sex, exclaimed, "Not another word. If there's a
thing I abominate, it is plans. My head goes whirling at once."
What she really abominated was questions, and she saw that Ansell
was turning serious. To appease him, she put on her clever manner
and asked him about Germany. How had it impressed him? Were we so
totally unfitted to repel invasion? Was not German scholarship
overestimated? He replied discourteously, but he did reply; and
if she could have stopped him thinking, her triumph would have
been complete.

When they rose to go, Agnes held Ansell's hand for a moment in
her own.

"Good-bye," she said. "It was very unconventional of us to come
as we did, but I don't think any of us are conventional people."

He only replied, "Good-bye." The ladies started off. Rickie
lingered behind to whisper, "I would have it so. I would have you
begin square together. I can't talk yet--I've loved her for
years--can't think what she's done it for. I'm going to write
short stories. I shall start this afternoon. She declares there
may be something in me."