Mrs. Warrens Daughter | Page 4

less than twenty-eight.
At the sight of her, Vivie lost her frown and tossed the letter on to the
bureau.
Honoria Fraser had been lunching with friends in Portland Place.
_Honoria_: "What a swotter you are! I thought I should find you here. I
suppose the staff departed punctually at One? I've come back expressly
from the Michael Rossiters to carry you off to them--or rather to Kew.
They're going to have tea with the Thiselton-Dyers and then revel in
azaleas and roses. I shall go out and charter a hansom and we'll drive
down ... it'll be some compensation for your having worked extra hard
whilst I've been away....
"I met such a delightful man at the Rossiters'!" (slightly flushing)
"Don't look at me so reproachfully! There are delightful men--a few--in
existence. This one has been wounded in South Africa and he's so
good-looking, though the back of his head is scarred and he'll always
walk with a limp.... Now then! Why do you look so solemn? Put on
your hat..."
_Vivie_: "I look solemn because I'm just considering a proposal of
marriage--or rather, the fewest words in which I can refuse it. I don't
think I want to go to Kew at all ... much sooner we had tea together,
here, on the roof..."
_Norie_: "I suppose it's Frank Gardner again, as I see his handwriting
on that envelope. Well I'm sorry about Kew--I should have enjoyed
it..."

Vivie (bitterly): "I expect it's that 'delightful man' that attracts you."
_Norie_: "Nonsense! I'm vowed to virginity, like you are ... I really
don't care if I never see Major Armstrong again ... though he certainly
is rather a darling ... very good-looking ... and, d'you know, he's almost
a Pro-Boer, though the Boers ambushed him.... Says this war's a beastly
mistake....
"Well: I'll have tea here instead, if you like, and we can talk business,
which we haven't done for a fortnight. I must get out of the way of
paying visits in the country. They make one so discontented with the
City afterwards. I've had a feeling lately I should like to have been a
farmer.... Too much of the work of the firm has been thrown on you....
But there's lots and lots I want to talk over. I abandon Kew, willingly,
and as to Major Armstrong.... However he can always find my address
if he cares to..."
Vivie (sits down in one of the arm chairs and Norie takes the other):
"Oh don't pity me. I love hard work and work which interests me. And
as to working for you, you know there's nothing I wouldn't..."
_Norie_: "Oh stow that!... You've been a full-fledged partner for a year
and ought to be getting callous or suspicious ... I did take some money
out of the petty cash yesterday. I must remember to put it down. I took
quite a lot ... for theatre tickets ... and you may be suspecting Bertie
Adams ... we can't call this an Adamless Eden, can we? I wonder why
we keep an office boy and not an office girl? I suppose such things will
soon be coming into being. We've women clerks and typewriteresses ...
Adams, I notice, is growing, and he has the trace of a moustache and is
already devoted to you ... dog-like..."
_Vivie_: "He's still more devoted to cricket, fortunately; and as soon as
Rose and Lilian had gone he was off too.... Only, I fancy, he discards
Regent's Park now in favour of Hendon or Herne Hill..."
_Norie_: "Now, about Frank Gardner..."
_Vivie_: "Yes, that cablegram.... Let's frame it and send it off as soon

as we can; then get tea ready. Talking of tea: I was just thinking before
Frank's letter came how much good you'd done me--in many other
ways than setting me up in business."
_Norie_: "Shut up!..."
_Vivie_: "How, when we first worked together, I used to think it
necessary to imitate men by drinking an occasional whiskey and
soda--though I loathe spirits--and smoking a cigar--ugh!--And how you
drew me back to tea and a self-respecting womanliness--China tea, of
course, and cigarettes. Why should we have wanted to be like men?...
much better to be the New Woman....
"As to Frank's cablegram..." (Goes to bureau, tries over several drafts
of message, consults Postal Guide as to cable rates per word, and reads
aloud) ... "How's this? 'Captain Frank Gardner Camp Hospital
Colesberg Cape Colony. Sorry must say no Best wishes recovery
writing. Vivie.' That'll cost just Two pounds and out of the balance I
shall buy a good parcel of books to send him, and some strawberries
and cakes for our tea." (Therewith she puts on hat carefully--for she is
always very particular, in a young-gentlemanly way, about her
appearance--goes out to send