well  I  suppose  the  surviving  partners  had  merit.'

*  Anyhow,  I  wish  you  luck,'  said  Farwell.  *  But
tell  me  more.  Do  you  find  you've  paid  too  high  a
price  for  what  you've  got  ? '

'  Too  high  a  price  ?  '

*  Yes.  Do  you  have  any  of  that  remorse  we  read
about ;  would  you  like  to  be  what  you  were  ?  Unattached,
you  know  .  .  .  eligible  for  Young  Women's  Christian
Associations  ?  *

*  Oh,  no,'  Victoria  laughed.  '  I  can't  pay  too  high
a  price  for  what  I  think  I'll  get.  I  don't  mean  these
jewels  or  these  clothes,  that's  only  my  professional
uniform.  When  I've  served  my  time  I  shall  get  that
for  which  no  woman  can  pay  too  much :  I  shall  be
economically  independent,  free.'

'  Free.'  Farwell  looked  towards  the  ceiling  through
a  cloudlet  of  smoke.  *  Yes,  you're  right.  With  the
world  as  it  is  it's  the  only  way.     To  be  independent


263  A  BED  OF  ROSES

you  must  acquire  the  right  to  be  dependent  on  the
world's  labour,  to  be  a  drone  .  .  .  and  the  biggest
drone  is  queen  of  the  hive.  Yet  I  wish  it  had  been
otherwise  with  you.'     He  looked  at  her  regretfully.
Victoria  toyed  with  a  dessert  knife.
'  Why  ? '  she  asked.
*  Oh,  you  had  possibilities  .  .  .  but  after  all,  we  all
have.  And  most  of  them  turn  out  to  be  impossibilities.
