Pauline laughed. “We haven’t invited her yet. I told Clare she must draw the line somewhere. There is a Lockhart’s Coffee House round the corner, and she goes there. What makes you interested in her, Miss Merivale? If you want some typewriting done, I can easily get a proper person for you. Mrs. Metcalfe got Sampson because she is so cheap. She comes to Clare, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, for some ridiculous sum. If she knew her work, she would have wanted more. In fact, she told Clare that she knew very little. Rose, what are you looking at? Do you find the company of chimney-tops exhilarating? I wish our flat was in the front of the building. Then we could have a good view of the river.”
“You have a delightful glimpse of it here,” Rose said, without turning her head.
Pauline smiled and looked at Miss Merivale. “Rose is in the mood to find even London smuts fascinating,” she said. “Could you spare her to us for a night or two next week, Miss Merivale? Joachim is playing at St. James’s Hall, and I want Rose to hear him.”
Miss Merivale started from a deep reverie. “Tom talked of bringing her up for Joachim’s concert,” she said. “But if Rose would like to stay a day or two—But have you room for a visitor?”
Rose had come from the window, her eyes sparkling at Pauline’s suggestion that she should stay with her and Clare. She now broke merrily in. “Clare’s two cousins stayed with them for a night last week, Aunt Lucy. You don’t know how elastic a flat is. Does she, Pauline? Oh, do let me!”
If Rose had been pleading to be let out of prison she could not have spoken more earnestly. Another time Miss Merivale might have been hurt, but just then she was hardly able to attend to what Rose was saying.
“We must ask Tom about the concert,” she said. “You can write to Miss Smythe to-morrow. Would any day next week be convenient, my dear?”
“Any day,” said Pauline smilingly. “But the sooner the better. Be sure and bring your violin, Rose. I want Mrs. Metcalfe to hear you play. She is a brilliant performer herself. We must have a musical afternoon while you are here. Don’t you think you could spare her for a week, Miss Merivale? We shall have so much to do.”
“We will see, my dear,” said Miss Merivale, getting up. “A week sounds a long time. But we will see. We must go now, Rosie. The carriage will be waiting. You and Miss Desborough must come and see us, my dear. I am sure even a day in the country would be good for you. Don’t you pine for the country now the spring is coming?”