They liked to lay hands on my property, to break the sitting, and sometimes the china--it made them feel Bohemian.

The next time I saw Miss Churm after this incident she surprised me greatly by making a scene about it--she accused me of having wished to humiliate her.

She hadn't resented the outrage at the time, but had seemed obliging and amused, enjoying the comedy of asking Mrs.Monarch, who sat vague and silent, whether she would have cream and sugar, and putting an exaggerated simper into the question.

She had tried intonations--as if she too wished to pass for the real thing--till I was afraid my other visitors would take offence.
Oh they were determined not to do this, and their touching patience was the measure of their great need.

They would sit by the hour, uncomplaining, till I was ready to use them; they would come back on the chance of being wanted and would walk away cheerfully if it failed.