e and a town hall, and, amongst the small shops,
one that they noted as a suitable place for tea. The sun was warm, and
folk were shopping with suitable deliberation; dogcarts stood outside
the principal establishments, motor cars brought up new supplies of
clients. Gertie appeared greatly interested in the occupants of these
conveyances; some of the ladies were so well protected from dust that
identification would not have been easy. Miss Radford mentioned that
she had not seen so many funny figures about since the fifth of
November of the previous year.

"Where are we off to now?" she demanded.

"A good long walk."

"Not me!" replied Miss Radford with determination. "I've got new shoes
on. You leave me somewhere with a magazine to read, and go off on your
own, and come back when you're tired."

"You won't be lonely?"

"I can always find a pleasure," said Gertie's friend haughtily, "in my
own company."

The riverside, Miss Radford decided, was a suitable spot for rest; she
could sit there and, in the intervals of application to literature of
the day, watch young men hiring boats and setting out to Shillingford
or Cholsey. So Gertie Higham started out across the bridge and walked
alone through a village where every shop sold everything, where the
police station was a homely, comfortable cottage, and children played
on wide grass borders of the road. At the cross-roads she went to the
left; an avenue of trees gave a shade that was welcome. The colour
came to her face as she strode along briskly, and this was not entirely
due to hurry or to the rays of the afternoon sun. Once or twice she
almost stopped, as though considering the advisability of returning.

An ivy-covered house stood at the side of iron gates, and Gertie
watched it as she approached. An elderly man was clipping hedges; he
arrested his work, with an evident hope that conversation would occur.

"No, young 'ooman," he said, "that ent where her ladyship lives.
That's only the gate lodge what you're looking at. A good ha'f-mile
'fore you come the house itself. Do you know her, may I inquire?"

"We've met in London."

"Well"--slowly, and making the most of the opportunity--"she ent
pleased to see many of her visitors, if all I hear is true; but no
doubt she'd be gratified to see you. I'm only a new-comer hereabouts,
so to speak, but--" He shook his head thoughtfully, and, taking off
his hat, readjusted the cabbage leaf that lined it.