ON FINDING A-SAU Bae

‘ELLO “Liz”! Nowhere in particular? Studio hunting. Nothing
you like better? You eat it up? Fine, come along. Ah! there’s
a likely looking window, let’s have a look. It’s really too bad that the
window’s the only thing the room seems big enough to hold. You could
use the window sill for a work bench, and probably get a chair between
it and the door. An easel? Simple! A collapsible one on the door. I
wonder if the management would object to the keeping of clay in the
hall. Do your casting in the lavatory, of course. Why must that man
go on talking about trifling rents and the reasons why the building is
always closed at six.

Here’s another—what a shame, and only a week too late. He said
it had been empty for years. North light, view of mountains and har-
bour, large room, running water—and the man who took it is using it to
store machinery!

That one up there? The second window along with the drawn
blinds? Yes, let’s. Ill bet this building could tell many a story. Here
we are. My dear, I’m sure it’s the right one, try the handle. —Oops!
Sorry! Must have got the wrong door. What do you suppose all those
men were doing around that green table? A bridge club? Might be,
though I can’t see what pleasure the other three got out of kibitzing.

Now that looks promising, we'll just go upstairs and wander
around. Oh! you’re the manager? Yes, we’re looking for a studio. You
say this floor’s office space and the next one’s for living purposes only?
Haven’t you anything in the way of a mezzanine? No, I’m afraid we
wouldn’t quite fit in here, good day—nice of you to show us around.

Look—there’s something across the street. Well, it’s a building,
and one never knows, does one? Do stop talking about tea, we’re liable
to find just the thing any minute. No, it says janitor under the bell,
but what’s the janitor under? We might as well just browse around, I’m
sure nobody’ll mind. It does seem awfully steep, doesn’t it. No, no, too
chopped up I’m afraid. Next floor? Ah well. Now! Here’s something.
Now, don’t you think it’s worth while? Yes, a wee bit dark, but we'll
be here in the evenings mostly. Lots of room, too. And look! even a
little kitchenette—we can boil a kettle occasionally. For heaven’s sake
get that anguished expression off your face. We'll just find the janitor
and settle things and then you can have all the rest and all the tea you
want. Why on earth are all those women trekking in here? Oh, you're
the second chapter of the Ladies of the Universe and this is Victory Hall,
and you’re going to have a whist drive. No thanks we’re just the first
chapter of the Beggar Student—just looking things over—we'll run along
now. Liz, dear, I’ve been saving the best for the last, so you’d appreciate