“Oh, no!” said Meriel. “Jim and I could easily get away for a few days now, but we prefer to add it on to our annual leave and have that in the good weather.”

I looked at Meriel. Her hair had lost some of its gloss—in fact her whole personality was lacking in its usual shine. I thought of Jim, who had just been dashing out to an evening meeting as I arrived. Jim was one of the “lean kine,” but to me, who had not seen him for several months, he looked too fine-drawn. I said as much to Meriel.

“Oh, do you think so? Of course, seeing him every day I can hardly notice it. He's been working too hard lately though—overtime, and that Secretaryship. Perhaps a break would be a good idea.”

Meriel is a sensible girl. She and Jim left last night for a short visit to Jim's parents. They'll come back refreshed, both of them. They'll have long, lazy days of do-as-you please in a home where breakfast in bed (real breakfast, not tea and toast) is a prerogative of guests; where, in winter, huge log fires are set and may be lit in early morning if one pleases; where the car is at one's service.

Jim will laze for a day or two, and then get his father out on the links for as much golf as the weather permits. Meriel will get up late, have long, comfy chats with her mother-in-law, read those books she has had by her for months. In the evenings there will be talk, with the party gathered round the fireside at home or in the home of an old friend.

Even if they stay for only a week, Meriel and Jim will come back keyed up, mentally and physically, for the rest of the winter.

Of course, they're exceptionally lucky in having such an ideal home to go to. But anyone who can manage a change of scene (and people) for even a short time in the middle of winter, should do so. Otherwise, there is the possibility of being so rundown at the end of the year that the annual holiday is enjoyed only towards its close.

Planning a Party.

Whether you are having a few friends to bridge, planning your parents' golden wedding or giving a birthday-party for the young son or daughter, your duties as caterer and organiser may tire you so much that you are unfit for your duties as hostess. Try not to let this happen. The best safeguard is planning—planning well in advance.

List your guests, trying to ensure that they will prove congenial; if a large party is planned check your seating accommodation, card tables, cutlery and crockery, making sure that you will have enough (your own, or borrowed) for your peace of mind and the comfort of your guests.

Have your invitations out well in advance. The planning of entertainment is fairly simple (if not, books to aid harassed hostesses can be procured) and should be decided early. Any necessary “properties,” such as cards, scorers, pencils, copies of competitions, apparatus for games, musical or elocutional performers, should be procured, or arranged for, at an early date.

Most hostesses' thoughts centre on supper. Plan your menu, and any extra dishes (or drinks) to be served during the evening. Write it out, check up again on necessary crockery, glasses, sweet-dishes, etc. List the food ingredients necessary.

Sweets (of the confectionery kind), drinks and some of the foodstuffs (e.g., meringues) can be arranged for days in advance. If cakes are to be bought, matters are much simplified, but the preparation of a home-cooked supper need not be irksome. Your ingredients are already in the house. Sponge cakes for trifles, biscuits and cakes that last well, can be made two or three days beforehand. Remember to lay in necessary stocks of tinned goods (fruits, asparagus, etc.). Have nuts ready shelled for cooking or decorating purposes.

Most of the cooking can be done the day before, leaving for the day itself a few special dishes, the arranging of savouries and the cutting of sandwiches (with bread bought ready sliced).

The household cleaning has, of course, also been planned, leaving little to do, except dusting and arranging of flowers, on the day of the party.

The unruffled hostess, who obviously enjoys her own party, is the one who has planned everything so well in advance that all the worries have been overcome before the day.

Heel-less Bed Socks.

We women like bed-socks, or hot-water bags in winter. How about the men-folk? I think they'd rather give in to bed-socks than to hot-water bags. So, sister, wife or mother, if you have a cold-footed man in your home, get out your knitting-needles, even if you are not very good with them, and knit him a pair of heel-less bed-socks (which fit any size of foot) by the following simple pattern.

Materials required: Four ounces of four-ply wool; four No. 6 knitting needles with points at each end.

Cast on 48 st., 16 on each of 3 needles. Work, in rounds, in rib of k. 3, and p. 1 (i.e., 1st row k. 3, p. 1; 2nd row p. 3, k. 1), until 2 inches are worked.

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In the next round, make the holes for the draw cord as follows: ^* k. 2, wool forward, k. 2 together, repeat from ^* to the end of the round.

Work again in the rib until the work measures 20 inches from the commencement.

Then work the remainder in plain knitting, shaping the toe as follows:

1st Round.—K. 2 together at the beginning of each needle.

Knit 2 rounds plain.

Repeat these 3 rounds until only 24 st. remain. Run a thread through these st. and fasten off very securely.

With the wool, crochet a length of ch. and thread it through the holes at the top of the sock. Finish off each end of the ch. with a small tassel.

The Swing of Dance Frocks.

Dance frocks lose none of their charm—and styles are so adaptable. You can emphasise your good points (a slim waist, graceful shoulders or a good back) and disguise your bad ones (if you admit to any).

First of all—waists. The Empire waist flatters slimness—and can give an illusion of it. Bare shoulders are demure above a dropped shoulder line, or sophisticated with a low decolletage. Shoulder straps are not conservative. Cross them, or have two on each side, clipping together at the shoulder line.

Some backs are best hidden. A charming frock I saw, in lace, had a definitely high neckline and swathed shoulders. Another smart fashion is the slit back.

Some backless gowns are so-“less” that one is surprised to find anything at the front.

Don't forget the dinner-suit in broadcloth or taffeta or what-you-will with crisp or gleaming vest—ideal for a cocktail party, for diner-a-deux, and on to a dance. The skirt will be slim, swinging a little to the hem, and slit for free movement.

I like junior frocks, for instance one with a front panel gradually losing itself in its own widening, and with the skirt widening with it to a swirl; short sleeves, puffed high.

If you catch your heel in your frock, the rip probably won't show, as more and more fulness is creeping into dance-frocks. The sway of them is accentuated by banding at the hem-line. Some filmy materials are tiered.