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〃I will find out when Robert is free and run up and let you know；〃 she continued。 〃Of course； there are so many demands upon him； especially during this period of national crisis； that I spare him all the social duties that I can。 But I shall insist on his making an exception in your case。〃
Joan murmured her sense of favour； but hoped she would not be allowed to interfere with more pressing calls upon Mr。 Phillips's time。
〃It will do him good；〃 answered Mrs。 Phillips； 〃getting away from them all for an hour or two。 I don't see much of him myself。〃
She glanced round and lowered her voice。 〃They tell me；〃 she said； 〃that you're a B。A。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Joan。 〃One goes in for it more out of vanity； I'm afraid； than for any real purpose that it serves。〃
〃I took one or two prizes myself；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃But； of course； one forgets things。 I was wondering if you would mind if I ran up occasionally to ask you a question。 Of course； as you know； my 'usband 'as 'ad so few advantages〃the lady's mind was concerned with more important matters； and the aspirates； on this occasion； got themselves neglected〃It is wonderful what he 'as done without them。 But if； now and then； I could 'elp him〃
There was something about the poor； foolish painted face； as it looked up pleadingly； that gave it a momentary touch of beauty。
〃Do；〃 said Joan； speaking earnestly。 〃I shall be so very pleased if you will。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the woman。 Miss Lavery came up in a hurry to introduce her to Miss Tolley。 〃I am telling all my friends to read your articles；〃 she added； resuming the gracious patroness； as she bowed her adieus。
Joan was alone again for a while。 A handsome girl； with her hair cut short and parted at the side； was discussing diseases of the spine with a curly…headed young man in a velvet suit。 The gentleman was describing some of the effects in detail。 Joan felt there was danger of her being taken ill if she listened any longer； and seeing Madge's brother near the door； and unoccupied； she made her way across to him。
Niel Singleton； or Keeley； as he called himself upon the stage； was quite unlike his sister。 He was short and plump； with a preternaturally solemn face； contradicted by small twinkling eyes。 He motioned Joan to a chair and told her to keep quiet and not disturb the meeting。
〃Is he brainy？〃 he whispered after a minute。
〃I like him；〃 said Joan。
〃I didn't ask you if you liked him；〃 he explained to her。 〃I asked you if he was brainy。 I'm not too sure that you like brainy men。〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 said Joan。 〃I like you； sometimes。〃
〃Now； none of that；〃 he said severely。 〃It's no good your thinking of me。 I'm wedded to my art。 We are talking about Mr。 Halliday。〃
〃What does Madge think of him？〃 asked Joan。
〃Madge has fallen in love with him； and her judgment is not to be relied upon；〃 he said。 〃I suppose you couldn't answer a straight question； if you tried。〃
〃Don't be so harsh with me；〃 pleaded Joan meekly。 〃I'm trying to think。 Yes；〃 she continued； 〃decidedly he's got brains。〃
〃Enough for the two of them？〃 demanded Mr。 Singleton。 〃Because he will want them。 Now think before you speak。〃
Joan considered。 〃Yes；〃 she answered。 〃I should say he's just the man to manage her。〃
〃Then it's settled；〃 he said。 〃We must save her。〃
〃Save her from what？〃 demanded Joan。
〃From his saying to himself： 'This is Flossie's idea of a party。 This is the sort of thing that； if I marry her； I am letting myself in for。' If he hasn't broken off the engagement already； we may be in time。〃
He led the way to the piano。 〃Tell Madge I want her；〃 he whispered。 He struck a few notes； and then in a voice that drowned every other sound in the room； struck up a comic song。
The effect was magical。
He followed it up with another。 This one with a chorus； consisting chiefly of 〃Umpty Umpty Umpty Umpty Ay；〃 which was vociferously encored。
By the time it was done with； Madge had discovered a girl who could sing 〃Three Little Pigs；〃 and a sad； pale…faced gentleman who told stories。 At the end of one of them Madge's brother spoke to Joan in a tone more of sorrow than of anger。
〃Hardly the sort of anecdote that a truly noble and high…minded young woman would have received with laughter；〃 he commented。
〃Did I laugh？〃 said Joan。
〃Your having done so unconsciously only makes the matter worse；〃 observed Mr。 Singleton。 〃I had hoped it emanated from politeness； not enjoyment。〃
〃Don't tease her；〃 said Madge。 〃She's having an evening off。〃
Joan and the Singletons were the last to go。 They promised to show Mr。 Halliday a short cut to his hotel in Holborn。
〃Have you thanked Miss Lessing for a pleasant evening？〃 asked Mr。 Singleton； turning to Mr。 Halliday。
He laughed and put his arm round her。 〃Poor little woman；〃 he said。 〃You're looking so tired。 It was jolly at the end。〃 He kissed her。
He had passed through the swing doors； and they were standing on the pavement waiting for Joan's bus。
〃Why did we all like him？〃 asked Joan。 〃Even Miss Lavery。 There's nothing extraordinary about him。〃
〃Oh yes there is；〃 said Madge。 〃Love has lent him gilded armour。 From his helmet waves her crest；〃 she quoted。 〃Most men look fine in that costume。 Pity they can't always wear it。〃
The conductor seemed impatient。 Joan sprang upon the step and waved her hand。
CHAPTER VII
Joan was making herself a cup of tea when there came a tap at the door。 It was Mrs。 Phillips。
〃I heard you come in；〃 she said。 〃You're not busy； are you？〃
〃No；〃 answered Joan。 〃I hope you're not。 I'm generally in about this time； and it's always nice to gossip over a dish of tea。〃
〃Why do you say 'dish' of tea！〃 asked Mrs。 Phillips； as she lowered herself with evident satisfaction into the easy chair Joan placed for her。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 laughed Joan。 〃Dr。 Johnson always talked of a 'dish' of tea。 Gives it a literary flavour。〃
〃I've heard of him；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃He's worth reading； isn't he？〃
〃Well； he talked more amusingly than he wrote；〃 explained Joan。 〃Get Boswell's Life of him。 Or I'll lend you mine；〃 she added； 〃if you'll be careful of it。 You'll find all the passages marked that are best worth remembering。 At least； I think so。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃You see； as the wife of a public man； I get so little time for study。〃
〃Is it settled yet？〃 asked Joan。 〃Are they going to make room for him in the Cabinet？
〃I'm afraid so；〃 answered Mrs。 Phillips。 〃Oh； of course； I want him to；〃 she corrected herself。 〃And he must； of course； if the King insists upon it。 But I wish it hadn't all come with such a whirl。 What shall I have to do； do you think？〃
Joan was pouring out the tea。 〃Oh； nothing；〃 she answered； 〃but just be agreeable to the right people。 He'll tell you who they are。 And take care of him。〃
〃I wish I'd taken more interest in politics when I was young；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃Of course； when I was a girl； women weren't supposed to。〃
〃Do you know； I shouldn't worry about them； if I were you；〃 Joan advised her。 〃Let him forget them when he's with you。 A man can have too much of a good thing；〃 she laughed。
〃I wonder if you're right；〃 mused Mrs。 Phillips。 〃He does often say that he'd just as soon I didn't talk about them。〃
Joan shot a glance from over her cup。 The poor puzzled face was staring into the fire。 Joan could almost hear him saying it。
〃I'm sure I am；〃 she said。 〃Make home…coming a change to him。 As you said yourself the other evening。 It's good for him to get away from it all； now and then。〃
〃I must try；〃 agreed Mrs。 Phillips； looking up。 〃What sort of things ought I to talk to him about； do you think？〃
Joan gave an inward sigh。 Hadn't the poor lady any friends of her own。 〃Oh； almost anything；〃 she answered vaguely： 〃so long as it's cheerful and non…political。 What used you to talk about before he became a great man？〃
There came a wistful look into the worried eyes。 〃Oh； it was all so different then；〃 she said。 〃'E just liked toyou know。 We didn't seem to 'ave to talk。 'E was a rare one to tease。 I didn't know 'ow clever 'e was； then。〃
It seemed a difficult case to advise upon。 〃How long have you been married？〃 Joan asked。
〃Fifteen years；〃 she answered。 〃I was a bit older than 'im。 But I've never looked my age； they tell me。 Lord； what a boy 'e was！ Swept you off your feet； like。 'E wasn't the only one。 I'd got a way with me； I suppose。 Anyhow； the men seemed to think so。 There was always a few 'anging about。 Like flies round a 'oney…pot； Mother used to say。〃 She giggled。 〃But 'e wouldn't take No for an answer。 And I didn't want to give it 'im； neither。 I was gone on 'im； right enough。 No use saying I wasn't。〃
〃You must be glad you didn't say No；〃 suggested Joan。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃'E's got on。 I always think of that little poem； 'Lord Burleigh；'〃 she continued； 〃whenever I get worrying about myself。 Ever read it？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Joan。 〃He was a landscape painter； wasn't he？〃
〃That's the one；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃I little thought I was letting myself in for being the wife of a big pot when Bob Phillips came along in 'is mine