nswered Laura's greeting civilly,
but she did not rise; and while the two stood looking at the pretty
Dresden china cups, with their backs turned towards her, she continued
her typing. Then after a while Miss Ethel went away to fetch some
small silver teaspoons bearing the Wilson crest which she intended to
give with the cups, so Caroline and Laura were left alone for a few
minutes.

"I see you are practising hard," said Laura. "I hope the machine goes
well." She glanced at the pretty cups. "I do seem to be lucky, don't
I?"

"Yes. You're one of the lucky ones," said Caroline. But though she
smiled, there was a sound of bitterness in her tone which Laura was
quick to feel and understand. Poor child, it must seem a bit hard to
see another girl having a lover like Godfrey, and lovely presents, and
new clothes. Then a sudden kind thought came into her head. "Miss
Raby, I wonder if you would care to have a look at my trousseau? I am
showing it to my friends next week. Could you come in for half an
hour?"

Caroline hesitated, but the "Miss Raby," and the utter absence of
patronage, or of any other feeling but sheer good-nature, dispersed her
prickly fear of being condescended to, though she only answered rather
nonchalantly: "Thank you, Miss Temple, I should be pleased to have a
look at your things."

"That's right. What day can you come?" said Laura. "Will Tuesday do?"

"I am on duty all day next week, excepting for meal-times, but I could
get in for a few minutes about five," said Caroline.

Very soon after that Laura went away, and a little later, Miss Ethel
herself came out of the door, walking slowly across the garden because
she did not yet feel at all well. As she went, she noticed for the
first time a little flag flying on the roof-beams of the new house that
was being built just over the privet hedge. It flapped gaily in the
sea-breeze, and seemed to Miss Ethel's irritated perceptions an
impudent flag, though she did not formulate her thoughts and was
conscious only of a sense of annoyance when she caught sight of the
bright patch of colour.

As she glanced up the long hot road outside the garden, her heart
almost failed her: but she had collected for the Flodmouth hospital for
the past twenty-five years, and a strong sense of duty urged her to
continue--especially now that the people from whom she generally
collected were less able to give, and more houses had to be visited.
But she was not