"

"But there is one for sale," said Laura: and with that she put her hand
through her companion's arm. "Miss Ethel," she went on rather timidly,
"Godfrey was wondering if anything would induce you to sell the
Cottage. He says he can get a most splendid price for it just now, if
you cared to sell. A man who made a tremendous lot out of trawlers or
something of that sort in the war is ready to give almost anything you
like to ask for it. And Godfrey could offer you a house in Emerald
Avenue with vacant possession. You would be quite comfortable there,
besides having so much less work."

"Why didn't Godfrey come and tell me that himself, instead of sending
you to do his job?" said Miss Ethel. "But his commercial instinct is
his ruling passion, of course. He'd make use of anything or anybody
for business purposes." She waited a second, then burst forth: "He'd
tan his grandmother if he could get a connection by selling her skin."

"You do him a great injustice," said Laura indignantly. "If he did not
consider this a good thing for you, he would never have suggested it."

"Well, perhaps not," responded Miss Ethel, exercising great
self-control; for she remembered that Godfrey was a Wilson, while the
girl to whom she spoke was after all not one yet. "I dare say he means
it for the best. But I'd rather starve here than live in Emerald
Avenue. Please tell him that. I'm not so fond of my fellows that I
could tolerate hearing the next-door neighbour snore through the
bedroom wall--which I understand you can do in these houses, if he
snores loud enough. I'm used to a decent privacy." She paused. "I
couldn't stand it, Laura," she added in a different tone. "Let us talk
about something else. I want you to come indoors and see your wedding
present."

Laura turned her brown eyes full upon Miss Ethel, flushing a little and
smiling happily. She wore a rough tweed which exactly suited the
slight angularity and awkwardness of her tall figure, making it seem
just the kind of figure which every English girl living in the country
ought to possess, and her voice, always lovely, took on an added
sweetness as she said quickly: "Doesn't it seem strange that a month
to-day I shall be married? I can hardly believe it."

Miss Ethel responded to that rather bleakly, but asked Laura to come
and inspect some china on the kitchen dresser from which she might
choose her wedding present.

As they entered the kitchen Caroline a