‘Shall I ask the landlady to help me up with the luggage?’

’You are rather pale, Miss Madden.  Better let me see to that.  I have to go down to remind Mrs. Hocking to put salt into the saucepan with the potatoes.  She cooks for me only on Sunday, and if I didn’t remind her every week she would boil the potatoes without salt.  Such a state of mind is curious, but one ends by accepting it as a fact in nature.’

They joined in merry laughter.  When Miss Vesper gave way to open mirth, she enjoyed it so thoroughly that it was a delight to look at her.

By the time dinner was over they were on excellent terms, and had exchanged a great deal of personal information.  Mildred Vesper seemed to be one of the most contented of young women.  She had sisters and brothers, whom she loved, all scattered about England in pursuit of a livelihood; it was rare for any two of them to see each other, but she spoke of this as quite in the order of things.  For Miss Barfoot her respect was unbounded.

’She had made more of me than any one else could have done.  When I first met her, three years ago, I was a simpleton; I thought myself ill-used because I had to work hard for next to no payment and live in solitude.  Now I should be ashamed to complain of what falls to the lot of thousands of girls.’

‘Do you like Miss Nunn?’ asked Monica.

’Not so well as Miss Barfoot, but I think very highly of her.  Her zeal makes her exaggerate a little now and then, but then the zeal is so splendid.  I haven’t it myself—­not in that form.’

‘You mean—­’

’I mean that I feel a shameful delight when I hear of a girl getting married.  It’s very weak, no doubt; perhaps I shall improve as I grow older.  But I have half a suspicion, do you know, that Miss Barfoot is not without the same weakness.’

Monica laughed, and spoke of something else.  She was in good spirits; already her companion’s view of life began to have an effect upon her; she thought of people and things in a more lightsome way, and was less disposed to commiserate herself.

The bedroom which both were to occupy might with advantage have been larger, but they knew that many girls of instinct no less delicate than their own had to endure far worse accommodation in London—­ where poverty pays for its sheltered breathing-space at so much a square foot.  It was only of late that Miss Vesper had been able to buy furniture (four sovereigns it cost in all), and thus to allow herself the luxury of two rooms at the rent she previously paid for one.  Miss Barfoot did not remunerate her workers on a philanthropic scale, but strictly in accordance with market prices; common sense dictated this principle.  In talking over their arrangements, Monica decided to expend a few shillings on the purchase of a chair-bedstead for her own use.

‘I often have nightmares,’ she remarked, ’and kick a great deal.  It wouldn’t be nice to give you bruises.’