"Yes, ordinary dress," came the chorus.
"Vith vite gloves, of course," said Miss Levey.
"Of course."
"Vot do you say, Miss Causton?"
"White gloves, of course," said Louie, with her demurest look. "And flowers in their buttonholes."
"Some gentlemen don't like to vear flowers," said Miriam Levey suspiciously.
"Aha, doesn't he?" from Mr. Mackie. "I saw you at the Holborn, Miss Levey—naughty, naughty——"
"Oh, I don't mean very big ones," said Louie, sipping her tea.
And the discussion went on, and meeting followed meeting; but the examination was to take place before the social.
The only fear Louie had for her Elementary was whether it would be worth very much when she had got it. She supposed that as an earnest preparation for the struggle of life this place was not quite such a fraud as Chesson's, but that struggle could hardly be as fierce as Richenda Earle had said if this Elementary took her very far. Indeed she had wondered more than once lately, especially since she had ceased to amuse herself quite so desperately, whether it was likely that typewriting and book-keeping were to be her destiny after all. She supposed they were, but she couldn't quite realise it. But she was fully prepared, and hoped Mr. Jeffries was as sure of his Honours paper as she was of her simple Pass.