"And Miss Mavis is fifty miles out--is that what you mean?"

"Well--you've seen her mother."

"Yes, but I think your contention would be that among such people the
mother doesn't count."

"Precisely, and that's bad."

"I see what you mean. But isn't it rather hard? If your mother doesn't
know anything it's better you should be independent of her, and yet if
you are that constitutes a bad note." I added that Mrs. Mavis had
appeared to count sufficiently two nights before. She had said and done
everything she wanted, while the girl sat silent and respectful. Grace's
attitude, so far as her parent was concerned, had been eminently decent.

"Yes, but she 'squirmed' for her," said Mrs. Nettlepoint.

"Ah if you know it I may confess she has told me as much."

My friend stared. "Told _you_? There's one of the things they do!"

"Well, it was only a word. Won't you let me know whether you do think
her a flirt?"

"Try her yourself--that's better than asking another woman; especially as
you pretend to study folk."

"Oh your judgement wouldn't probably at all determine mine. It's as
bearing on _you_ I ask it." Which, however, demanded explanation, so