One day, the two girls came back to Queen's Gate in a state of considerable excitement.
"It certainly is the most likely place we have seen," said Gertrude, as she sipped her tea, and blinked at the fire with dazzled, short-sighted eyes.
"But such miles away from South Kensington," grumbled Conny, unfastening her rich cloak, and falling upon the cake with all the appetite born of honest labour.
"And the rent is a little high; but Mr. Russel says it would be bad economy to start in some cheap, obscure place."
"So we are to flaunt expensively," said Phyllis, lightly; "but all this is very vague, is it not Mrs. Devonshire? Please be more definite, Gerty dear."
"We have been looking at some rooms in Upper Baker Street," explained Gertrude, addressing her hostess; "there are two floors to be let unfurnished, above a chemist's shop."
"Two floors, and what else?" cried Conny; "you will never guess! Actually a photographer's studio built out from the house."
Mrs. Devonshire disapproved secretly of their scheme, and had only been won over to countenance it after days of persuasion.
"Some one has been failing in business there," she said, "or why should the studio stand empty?"