Miss BRUSS, the perfect secretary, received Nona Manford at the door of her mother&#39;s boudoir (&quot;the office,&quot; Mrs. Manford&#39;s children called it) with a gesture of the kindliest denial.<br />&quot;She wants to, you know, dear&mdash;your mother always wants to see you,&quot; pleaded Maisie Bruss, in a voice which seemed to be thinned and sharpened by continuous telephoning. Miss Bruss, attached to Mrs. Manford&#39;s service since shortly after the latter&#39;s second marriage, had known Nona from her childhood, and was privileged, even now that she was &quot;out,&quot; to treat her with a certain benevolent familiarity&mdash;benevolence being the note of the Manford household.<br />&quot;But look at her list&mdash;just for this morning!&quot; the secretary continued, handing over a tall morocco-framed tablet, on which was inscribed, in the colourless secretarial hand: &quot;7.30 Mental uplift. 7.45 Breakfast. 8. Psycho-analysis. 8.15 See cook. 8.30 Silent Meditation. 8.45 Facial massage. 9. Man with Persian miniatures. 9.15 Correspondence. 9.30 Manicure. 9.45 Eurythmic exercises. 10. Hair waved. 10.15 Sit for bust. 10.30 Receive Mothers&#39; Day deputation. 11. Dancing lesson. 11.30 Birth Control committee at Mrs.&mdash;&mdash;&quot;