Prettyman stood at her door, and it took some time to
make her realize who her august visitor was. She was getting blind;
she had never been a favourite with Mrs. de Tracy, nor had she entered
Stoke Revel Manor since her nursling disgraced it by marrying a Bean.
She curtseyed humbly to the great lady.

"There now, ma'am," she said, "it's not often we have seen you across
the river. Will you please to come inside and sit down, ma'am? 'T is
very warm this afternoon, it is." She was a good deal fluttered in her
welcome, for there was that in Mrs. de Tracy's air that seemed to bode
misfortune.

"I shall sit down for a few minutes, Elizabeth," was the reply, "while
I explain my visit to you."

Mrs. Prettyman stood aside respectfully, and Mrs. de Tracy swept past
her into the cottage and seated herself there. It never occurred to
her to ask the old woman to sit down in her own house; she expected
her to stand throughout the interview. Without further preamble,
then, Mrs. de Tracy came to the point:--

"Elizabeth," she said, "I have come to tell you that I am going to
sell the land on which this cottage stands, and that you will have to
find some other home."

The old woman did not understand for a minute. "You be going to sell
the land, ma'am?" she repeated stupidly.

"Yes, I am. A gentleman from London wishes to buy it; you will need to
go."

"A gentleman from London! Lor, ma'am, no gentleman from London
wouldn't live 'ere!" Elizabeth cried, perfectly dazed by the
statement.

Mrs. de Tracy repeated: "It is not your business, Elizabeth, what he
intends to do with the place; all you have to do is to remove from the
house."

The old woman sank down on the nearest chair and covered her face with
her hands. She was so old and so tired that she had no heart to face
life under new conditions, even should they be better than those she
left. A younger woman would have snapped her fingers in Mrs. de
Tracy's face, so to speak, and wished her joy of her old rattletrap of
a house, but Elizabeth Prettyman, after a lifetime of struggles, had
not vitality enough for such an action. She had never dreamed of
leaving the cottage, and where was she to go? Her furrowed face wore
an expression of absolute terror now when she looked up.

"But where be I to live, ma'am?" she cried.

"I do not know, Elizabeth; you must arrange that with your relations,"
said Mrs. de Tracy.

"I don't 'ave but only me niece--'er as married down Exeter