The worst of it is, the message--just a mere word by telephone--came so late that the dinner HAD to be paid for; and Becassin HAD run it up--it had been so drummed into him that the Duchess was coming!" Mrs.Fisher indulged in a faint laugh at the remembrance.

"Paying for what she doesn't get rankles so dreadfully with Louisa: I can't make her see that it's one of the preliminary steps to getting what you haven't paid for--and as I was the nearest thing to smash, she smashed me to atoms, poor dear!" Lily murmured her commiseration.

Impulses of sympathy came naturally to her, and it was instinctive to proffer her help to Mrs.Fisher.
"If there's anything I can do--if it's only a question of meeting the Duchess! I heard her say she thought Mr.Bry amusing----" But Mrs.Fisher interposed with a decisive gesture.

"My dear, I have my pride: the pride of my trade.

I couldn't manage the Duchess, and I can't palm off your arts on Louisa Bry as mine.