or the ayes had it.

The reasons for this change were indefinite--on the whole, no doubt, it
was because people liked her better. They had grown used to her at
Ansdore, where at first her mastership had shocked them; the scandal and
contempt aroused by the Socknersh episode were definitely dead, and men
took off their hats to the strenuousness with which she had pulled the
farm together, and faced a crisis that would have meant disaster to many
of her neighbours. Ansdore was one of the largest farms of the district,
and it was absurd that it should never be represented at the Woolpack
table merely on the ground that its master was a woman.

Of course many women wondered how Joanna could face such a company of
males, and suggestions were made for admitting farmers' wives on this
occasion. But Joanna was not afraid, and when approached as to whether
she would like other women invited, or to bring a woman friend, she
declared that she would be quite satisfied with the inevitable presence
of the landlord's wife.

She realized that she would be far more imposing as the only woman
guest, and made great preparations for a proper display. Among these was
included the buying of a new gown at Folkestone. She thought that
Folkestone, being a port for the channel steamers, would be more likely
to have the latest French fashions than the nearer towns of Bulverhythe
and Marlingate. My I But she would make the Farmers' Club sit up.

The dressmaker at Folkestone tried to persuade her not to have her
sleeves lengthened or an extra fold of lace arranged along the top of
her bodice.

"Madam has such a lovely neck and arms--it's a pity to cover them
up--and it spoils the character of the gown. Besides, madam, this gown
is not at all extreme--demi-toilet is what it really is."

"I tell you it won't do--I'm going to dine alone with several gentlemen,
and it wouldn't be seemly to show such a lot of myself."

It ended, to the dressmaker's despair, in her draping her shoulders in a
lace scarf and wearing kid gloves to her elbow; but though these
pruderies might have spoilt her appearance at Dungemarsh Court, there
was no doubt as to its effectiveness at the Woolpack. The whole room
held its breath as she sailed in, with a rustle of amber silk skirts.
Her hair was piled high against a tortoise-shell comb, making her
statelier still.

Furnese of Misleham, who was chairman that year, came gaping to greet
her. The others stared and stood s