At half-past five, she went to her bedroom, locked the door, and dressed for the dance. Her dress, which she now wore for the first time, had been made, amid the mingled jeers and acclamations of Sans Souci from a curious old piece of grenadine belonging to Juley’s girlhood – black, with bright blue stripes and at intervals little yellow embroidered flowers. It had a low bodice, tiny sleeves, and a very full, short skirt. And when the girl had put on over it her day blouse and a dark skirt, covering all with a coat, no one would have guessed her secret. She pulled a pair of black stockings over her bright blue, silk ones, and she hid her slippers and a black lace fan in the inside pocket of her coat. It was done!

When Juley came down to the lobby, ready in time for once, she found her daughter waiting for her with red cheeks and shining eyes. It gave her great delight that Joanna took her arm affectionately in the street, and her hopes for the meeting ran high.

II

Not until the proceedings at St. Saviour’s were in full cry, did Joanna know herself to be their quarry.

Long ago in self-defence she had perfected her faculty for not listening, and on this occasion she had rendered herself inaccessible and more easily as no answering speech was required of her. Exulting in her hidden finery, and full of anticipations for the coming evening, she had been for some time wrapped quite securely away.

Indeed a more observant person than she, might well have been misled by the innocent beginnings of the meeting. Not more than a dozen people were present, including Juley, Joanna and Miss Gedge. The others were Mr. Bridgewater, the incumbent; Miss Bostock, a deaconess; and some of Miss Gedge’s students, who wore their dark blue uniforms.

After a short request by Mr. Bridgewater, that their coming together here might not fail in its intent, a hymn had been sung. A passage from the Bible followed. Then at a pre-arranged signal, all the women rose, turned themselves about; and fluttered to their knees. Whereupon the clergyman, having done his part, tiptoed out and left them, softly closing the vestry door behind him.

It was this odd departure of Mr. Bridgewater that first roused Joanna to what was forward; and when, after a few strained moments, Eva Gedge led in prayer, she knew herself entrapped.

There was no mistaking the suggestions that were now laid before the Lord – first by Eva; then, after a pause of dreadful discomfort, by Miss Bostock; then, at the end of a breathless term of suspense, by one of the younger women. These last clearly suffered acute nervousness at having to address their God in public. But this was an art they had come to Miss Gedge to learn, so not one of them would relinquish such an opportunity for practice.