g the visit of Janet
Orgreave.

In due course Edwin's bedroom was reached, and here Auntie Clara's
ecstasy was redoubled.

"I'm sure you're very grateful to your father, aren't you, Edwin?" she
majestically assumed, when she had admired passionately the window, the
door, the pattern of the hearth-tiles, and the spaciousness.

Edwin could not speak. Inquiries of this nature from Mrs Hamps
paralysed the tongues of the children. They left nothing to be said. A
sheepish grin, preceded by an inward mute curse, was all that Edwin
could accomplish. How in heaven's name could the woman talk in that
strain? His attitude towards his auntie was assuredly hardening with
years.

"What's all this?" questioned his father suddenly, pointing to upright
boards that had been fastened to the walls on either side of the
mantelpiece, to a height of about three feet.

Then Edwin perceived the clumsiness of his tactics in remaining
upstairs. He ought to have gone downstairs to meet his father and
auntie, and left them to go up alone. His father was in an inquisitive
mood.

"It's for shelves," he said.

"Shelves?"

"For my books. It's Mr Orgreave's idea. He says it'll cost less."

"Cost less! Mr Orgreave's got too many ideas--that's what's the matter
with him. He'll idea me into the bankruptcy court if he keeps on."

Edwin would have liked to protest against the savagery of the tone, to
inquire firmly why, since shelves were necessary for books and he had
books, there need be such a display of ill-temper about a few feet of
deal plank. The words were ready, the sentences framed in his mind.
But he was silent. The door was locked on these words, but it was not
Edwin who had turned the key; it was some force within him, over which
he had no control.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TWO.

"Now, now, father!" intervened Mrs Hamps. "You know you've said over
and over again how glad you are he's so fond of books, and never goes
out. There isn't a better boy in Bursley. That I will say, and to his
face." She smiled like an angel at both of them.

"You say! You say!" Darius remarked curtly, trying to control himself.
A few years ago he would never have used such violent demeanour in her
presence.

"And how much easier these shelves will be to keep clean than a
bookcase! No polishing. Just a rub, and a wipe with a damp cloth now
and then. And no dirt underneath. They w