 room again, they were once more unconstrained: Maggie
could contradict Stephen and laugh at him, and he could recommend to her
consideration the example of that most charming heroine, Miss Sophia Western,
who had a great »respect for the understandings of men.« Maggie could look at
Stephen - which, for some reason or other, she always avoided when they were
alone; and he could even ask her to play his accompaniment for him, since Lucy's
fingers were so busy with that bazaar-work; and lecture her on hurrying the
tempo, which was certainly Maggie's weak point.
    One day - it was the day of Philip's return - Lucy had formed a sudden
engagement to spend the evening with Mrs. Kenn, whose delicate state of health,
threatening to become confirmed illness through an attack of bronchitis, obliged
her to resign her functions at the coming bazaar into the hands of other ladies,
of whom she wished Lucy to be one. The engagement had been formed in Stephen's
presence, and he had heard Lucy promise to dine early and call at six o'clock
for Miss Torry, who brought Mrs. Kenn's request.
    »Here is another of the moral results of this idiotic bazaar,« Stephen burst
forth, as soon as Miss Torry had left the room - »taking young ladies from the
duties of the domestic hearth into scenes of dissipation among urn-rugs and
embroidered reticules! I should like to know what is the proper function of
women, if it is not to make reasons for husbands to stay at home, and still
stronger reasons for bachelors to go out. If this goes on much longer, the bonds
of society will be dissolved.«
    »Well, it will not go on much longer,« said Lucy, laughing, »for the bazaar
is to take place on Monday week.«
    »Thank heaven!« said Stephen. »Kenn himself said the other day, that he
didn't like this plan of making vanity do the work of charity; but just as the
British public is not reasonable enough to bear direct taxation, so St Ogg's has
not got force of motive enough to build and endow schools without calling in the
force of folly.«
    »Did he say so?« said little Lucy, her hazel eyes opening wide with anxiety.
»I never heard him say anything of that kind: I thought he approved of what we
were doing.«
    »I'm sure he approves you,« said Stephen, smiling at her affectionately;
»your conduct in going out
