n the seat behind her. She intended to buy a car if she won her
case at the High Court--for to the High Court it had gone, both the
Commissioners and their referee having shown themselves blind to the
claims of justice.

The doctor listened respectfully to the long list of her symptoms and to
her own diagnosis of them. No, he did not think it was the rheumatism
driven inside her.... He asked her a great many questions, some of which
she thought indelicate.

"You're thoroughly run down," he said at last--"been doing too
much--you've done a lot, you know."

"Reckon I have," said Joanna--"but I'm a young woman yet"--there was a
slight touch of defiance in her last words.

"Oh, age has nothing to do with it. We're liable to overwork ourselves
at all ages. Overwork and worry.... What you need is a thorough rest of
mind and body. I recommend a change."

"You mean I should ought to go away?"

"Certainly."

"But I haven't been away for twenty year."

"That's just it. You've let yourself get into a groove. You want a
thorough change of air, scene and society. I recommend that you go away
to some cheerful gay watering-place, where there's plenty going on and
you'll meet new people."

"But what'll become of Ansdore?"

"Surely it can get on without you for a few weeks?"

"I can't go till the lambing's finished."

"When will that be?"

"Not till after Easter."

"Well, Easter is a very good time to go away. Do take my advice about
this, Miss Godden. You'll never be really well and happy if you keep in
a groove ..."

"Groove!" snorted Joanna.

Sec.10

She was so much annoyed with him for having twice referred to Ansdore as
a "groove" that at first she felt inclined not to take his advice. But
even to Joanna this was unsatisfactory as a revenge--"If I stay at home,
maybe I'll get worse, and then he'll be coming over to see me in my
'groove' and getting eight-and-six each time for it." It would certainly
be better to go away and punish the doctor by a complete return to
health. Besides, she was awed by the magnitude of the prescription. It
was a great thing on the Marsh to be sent away for change of air,
instead of just getting a bottle of stuff to take three times daily
after meals.... She'd go, and make a splash of it.

Then the question arose--where should she go? She could go to her
cousins in the Isle of Wight, but they were a poor lot. She could go to
Chichester, where Martha Relf, the girl who had b