as she thought of
the clatter made by Her at Lewisham.... Oh, there was no denying that
she had a good house and good servants and had done altogether well for
herself until in a fit of wickedness she had bust it all.

She would not tell Ellen to-night. She would wait till to-morrow
morning, when she'd had a good sleep. She felt tired now, and would cry
the minute Ellen began.... But she'd let her know about the breaking
off of her engagement--that would prepare the way, like.

"Ellen," she said, after she had drunk her tea--"one reason I'm so upset
is that I've just broken off my marriage with my intended."

"Joanna!"

Ellen put down her cup and stared at her. In her anxiety to hide her
emotion, Joanna had spoken more in anger than in sorrow, so her sister's
pity was checked.

"What ever made you do that!"

"We found we didn't suit."

"Well, my dear, I must say the difference in your age made me rather
anxious. Thirteen years on the woman's side is rather a lot, you know.
But I knew you'd always liked boys, so I hoped for the best."

"Well, it's all over now."

"Poor old Joanna, it must have been dreadful for you--on the top of your
failure in the courts, too; but I'm sure you were wise to break it off.
Only the most absolute certainty could have justified such a marriage."

She smiled to herself. When she said "absolute certainty" she was
thinking of Tip.

"Well, I've got a bit of a headache," said Joanna rising--"I think I'll
go and have a lay down."

"Do, dear. Would you like me to come up with you and help you undress?"

"No thanks. I'll do by myself. You might ask the girl to bring me up a
jug of hot water. Reckon I shan't be any worse for a good wash."

Sec.36

Much as Joanna was inclined to boast of her new bathroom at Ansdore, she
did not personally make much use of it, having perhaps a secret fear of
its unfriendly whiteness, and a love of the homely, steaming jug which
had been the fount of her ablutions since her babyhood's tub was given
up. This evening she removed the day's grime from herself by a gradual
and excessively modest process, and about one and a half pints of hot
water. Then she twisted her hair into two ropes, put on a clean
night-gown, and got into bed.

Her body's peace between the cool, coarse sheets seemed to thrill to her
soul. She felt at home and at rest. It was funny being in bed at that
time in the afternoon--scarcely past four o'clock--it was funny, but it
w