"What is the matter, Mavis?" asked Miss Helen.

"A crumb stuck in my throat," replied Mavis, saying what was untrue,
as she bent over her plate. This action was necessary to hide the
smile that rose to her lips and eyes at the recollection of
yesterday's applause, to which Miss Annie had referred. It had amused
Mavis to notice the isolated clapping which followed the execution of
an item, in the programme by a solitary performer; this came from her
friends in the room. The conclusion of a duet would be greeted by two
patches of appreciation; whilst a pianoforte concerto, which engaged
sixteen hands, merged the eight oases of applause into a roar of
approval.

"How do you get to Paddington, Mavis?" asked Miss Helen, after she
had finished her meagre breakfast.

"From Addison Road," replied Mavis, who was still eating.

"Wouldn't Shepherd's Bush be better?" asked Annie, who was wondering
if she could find accommodation for a further piece of toast.

"I always recommend parents to send their daughters from Paddington
via Addison Road," remarked Helen severely.

"There are more trains from Shepherd's Bush," persisted Annie.

"Maybe, dear Annie" (when relations between the sisters were
strained, they made use of endearing terms), "but more genteel
people live on the Addison Road connection."