“Yes?” said she.
It opened the conversation excellently.
“I want a coloured print of ‘Diana of the Uplands,’” said I.
She hurried to a portfolio and began turning over coloured prints at an incredible speed. Before she had found it, she looked up.
“Will you have it plain?” she asked, “or with a B.A.M.?”
“A B.A.M.?” said I. I could not describe to you the effect of those three mysterious letters. It sounded almost improper. “You ought not to say things like that to me,” I continued solemnly. “Supposing I said that you were a V.P.G.”
She became at a loss between confusion and amusement.
“I forgot,” she said, apologetically. “I’m new here, and that’s what we call them. It means British Art Mount.”
At that moment there came another serving-maid in a green apron.
“What is it you want, sir?” she asked.