'They collect too great crowds,' Miss Levering answered her. 'The authorities won't let them meet in Trafalgar Square after to-day. They have their last meeting there at three o'clock.'
'To-day! That's no use to people out of town—unless I could invent some excuse——'
'Wait till you can go without inventions and excuses.'
'You think all that wrong!'
'I think it rather undignified.'
'So do I—but if I'm ever to go——'
Lord John came forward, leaving Stonor to his hostess. 'Still talking over your Shelter plan?' he asked benevolently.
'No,' answered Miss Levering, 'we left the Shelter some time ago.'
He pinched his niece's ear with affectionate playfulness.
'Then what's all this chatterment about?'