Margots Scheme

"There's Bond Street for you!" she cried triumphantly; and Edith flushed
with pleasure, and wriggled round and round to admire herself from
different points of view.

"It is a tonic!" she declared gratefully. "You are a born milliner,
Margot. It will be a pleasure to go out in this hat, and I shall feel
quite nice and conceited again. It's so long since I've felt conceited!
I'm ever and ever so much obliged. Can you stay on a little longer,
dear, or are you in a hurry to get back?"

"No! I shall get a scolding anyway, so I might as well have all the
fling I can get. I'll have tea with you and the boys, and a little
private chat with Jack afterwards. You won't mind leaving us alone for
a few minutes? It's something about Ron, but I won't promise not to get
in a little flirtation on my own account."

Jack's wife laughed happily.

"Flirt away--it will cheer him up! I'll put the boys to bed, and give
you a fine opportunity. Here they come, back from their walk. I must
hurry, dear, and cut bread and butter. I'll carry down the hat, and put
it on when Jack comes in."

Aunt Margot's appearance at tea was hailed with a somewhat qualified
approval.

"You must talk to us, mother," Jim said sternly; "talk properly, not
only, `Yes, dear,' `No, dear,' like you do sometimes, and then go on
speaking to her about what we can't understand. She's had you all
afternoon!"