ith that shrewd mother-sense so many women acquire late in
life, that Mrs. Otway was a most undesigning widow.

Not that it would have _really_ mattered if she had been the other sort.
Major Guthrie's own private means were small. It was true that after his
mother's death he would be quite well off, but Mrs. Guthrie, even if she
had a weak heart, did not think herself likely to die for a long, long
time.... And yet, as time went on, and as the old lady became, perhaps,
a thought less selfish, she began to wish that her son would fancy some
girl with money, and marrying, settle down. If that could come to pass,
then she, Mrs. Guthrie, would be content to live on by herself, in the
house which she had made so pretty, and where she had gathered about her
quite a pleasant circle of admiring and appreciative, if rather dull,
country friends.

But when she had said a word in that sense to Alick, he had tried to
turn the suggestion off as a joke. And as she had persisted in talking
about it, he had shown annoyance, even anger. At last, one day, he had
exclaimed, "I'm too old to marry a girl, mother! Somehow--I don't know
how it is--I don't seem to care very much for girls."

"There are plenty of widows you could marry," she said quickly. "A widow
is more likely to have money than a girl." He had answered, "But you see
I don't care for money." And then she had observed, "I don't see how you
could marry without money, Alick." And he had said quietly, "I quite
agree. I don't think I could." And it may be doubted if in his loyal
heart there had even followed the unspoken thought, "So long as you are
alive, mother."

Yes, Alick was a very good son, and Mrs. Guthrie did not grudge him his
curious friendship with Mrs. Otway.

And then, just as she was saying this to herself, not for the first
time, she heard the sound of doors opening and closing, and she saw,
advancing towards her over the bright green lawn, the woman of whom she
had just been thinking with condescending good-nature.

Mrs. Otway looked hot and a little tired--not quite as attractive as
usual. This perhaps made Mrs. Guthrie all the more glad to see her.

"How kind of you to come!" exclaimed the old lady. "But I'm sorry you
find me alone. I rather hoped my son might be back to-day. He had to go
up to London unexpectedly last Friday. He has an old friend in the War
Office, and I think it very likely that this man may have wanted to
consult him. I don't know if y