RELUCTANT PRESS

I was going to stand up when they arrived but checked myself. It was fun being a girl and I had gotten my second wind.

"And what adventures have you two been having'?" asked Doreen.

"We very nearly decided to go in to Cecielle's to try on a couple of frocks," said Sue, the irrepressible.

"So why didn't you?" said Joan.

"Had we all arrived here now," looking around her, "we would never have got this table together," said Sue.

By this time the place was quite packed; there must have been at least a hundred hatted women with a sprinkling of men and a few children.

"When the mannequins come on you are sure to see something you like," laughed Mom teasingly.

"Tell you what, if you go to the showroom afterwards and try something on, I'll buy it for you if you promise to wear it sometimes," said Doreen with a wicked grin. Doreen was quite an affluent woman in her own right and could well afford to be that indulgent.

I looked at Mom, half wondering how to respond to this. "Well now, one doesn't get an offer like that very often." I must say, Mom always had an eye to the Main Chance. "Ooh, some people are lucky fish," responded Sue. "I'll help you too."

By this time our teas and cakes had arrived. This was indeed one of the great tea houses of Africa. The hubbub of voices and bustling activity testified to this. The mannequins were already making their way between the tables showing off 'tea frocks'.

One arrived at our table wearing a blue and white striped dress with black stockings. She twirled in front of us and I wanted to feel the skirt. Sensing this, she held the pleated skirt out for my inspection; I took my glove off and felt it. "Lovely," I murmured.

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JOYCE'S GIRLS BY JOYCE

"Will this be available for trying 'on?" inquired Doreen.

"Yes, madam," replied the model, "in twenty minutes; just ask to see dress No. 14," and with that she continued on her way.

"You are going to try that dress on," said Doreen firmly. "I think it will go on you extremely well."

"And if you promise to wear it, I'll buy you the black stockings," said Mom.

By now I was feeling thoroughly relaxed and confident. I crossed my legs with a feeling of self-indulgent luxury. "Is that a promise?"

"Yes, my love, of course it is; I'd love to see you in a pair of sheer black stockings," grinned Mom.

"Excuse me, girls, but I'm going to the LADIES," said Sue. "Joyce, dear, come with me; I'm sure it's time you had a SIT", she giggled.

"Yes, go on, I dare you," said Doreen. "And come back here and tell us the colour of the towels and what they dispense from the slot-machine next to the hand basins then we'll KNOW you have been inside; if you get a nose-bleed in there, thruppence is all you'll need." At this last, she laughed much too loudly at her 'in-joke'.

Sue and I got up and made our way between the tables to the 'holy of holy's, the 'inner' sanctum for ladies only!

Ah me, exquisite baptism! It smelled of face powder and scent and lipstick and all things nice... things that little girls are made of! The only areas where there were no mirrors were the floors and the ceilings.

There was a coloured woman in charge, seated at a little table. I couldn't help wondering what her job could possibly

be to see that no wicked men entered there in drag hardly; I suppose people faint sometimes. Whatever her precise function, she gave the place TONE which, I suppose, is what the management had in mind.

"I think she is here to see that two people don't use the same loo together and so save a penny," whispered Sue with

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