n
this point of a house because hints had not failed to reach her that
Godfrey was considered to be feathering his nest at her expense; but
the next minute she forgot her annoyance in a tender flow of sympathy
for this other woman who had lost everything which she herself was
about to possess.

"Godfrey and I thought it preferable to waiting until the spring," she
said gently. "But of course I should have liked my new home to be all
ready for me, as yours was."

"Well, you needn't regret the toilet-tidies," said Miss Ethel. "Green
paper with magenta ribbon, if I remember right." Then she paused a
moment, nervously trying to steel herself for an effort which was
exceedingly painful to her. "But what we asked you to come in for was
this----" She paused again to clear her throat. "We have decided to
sell this house, and we thought you would kindly convey the message to
Godfrey for us."

"Of course I will," said Laura readily. The question as to why a
letter could not have been sent to Godfrey was latent in her tone, but
Miss Ethel did not answer it, because she herself did not know how she
dreaded the effort of writing the letter.

"We knew you would be seeing Godfrey this afternoon--we thought perhaps
you would break it to him."

"We have only just decided," added Mrs. Bradford. "But I daresay we
shall be all right in Emerald Avenue. There is a pleasant window in
the front bedroom facing south. So long as I have my knitting and a
warm corner I can make myself happy. My dear husband once said that my
disposition made me immune from the arrows of adversity. It was a
beautiful thing to say, and I have never forgotten it."

"I'll be sure to tell Godfrey," said Laura, for once bluntly
disregarding Mrs. Bradford's reminiscences, because she understood far
more than they thought. It was plain enough that Miss Ethel had sent
in this haste so as to make the matter irrevocable--to strengthen a
decision almost beyond her powers. But once they had talked openly
about leaving the house, it became an established thing.

"Tell Godfrey we can be out by Christmas, if he is able to effect a
sale," said Miss Ethel. "We must leave the roses, of course, as there
will be no garden in Emerald Avenue. The privet hedge has been clipped
this year, but it will want pruning in January."

"Oh, Miss Ethel!" said Laura, with a catch in her throat, suddenly
feeling the tears running down, though she had no thought of crying a