that he may take the lease from us at
Michaelmas if we decide to move."

There was a rustle of silken skirts as Mrs Loftus sat upright in her
chair and gave a short preliminary cough before entering into the
conversation.

"But if you get it cheaply, why should you move at all? I think it
would be a fatal mistake. Living must be very cheap in this
out-of-the-world place; and you have a garden, I see, which must keep
you supplied with vegetables. If you kept fowls you might sell the
eggs, and make a little extra money in that way. Quite a number of
people go in for poultry-farming in these days. There is nothing _infra
dig._ about it. I was saying to your uncle as we came down that it was
quite likely that you could get paying guests if you went to work in the
right way. Many people prefer living in the country in summer-time, and
you could quote reasonable terms. Then there must surely be some
teaching to be found in the neighbourhood, which would employ the girls
who were not needed at home. Really I think, with a hundred a year
assured, besides what you earn--you are in a solicitor's office, I
believe, Stephen--you might get along very comfortably."

Philippa's eyes flashed, but her lips twitched at the same time, for it
was too absurd to hear a stranger settling the destinies of a family in
this swift, casual fashion. She dared not meet Stephen's eye; and even
Mr Loftus seemed conscious of something wrong, for he said testily:

"Not so quick, my dear; not so quick, if you please! We have not heard
what plans Stephen and Philippa have made for themselves.--I should like
to hear your own ideas; for, of course, you have thought over the matter
from all points of view. Let us hear what are your plans."

The brother and sister looked at one another, and there was a dead
silence. Stephen was afraid to speak. Philippa was anxious not to
monopolise the role of leader. She waited a full moment, but when she
began there was no hesitation in her voice.

"We intend to go up to London to seek our fortunes. I agree with Aunt
Gertrude that if we stayed here we should be able to earn enough money
to provide bread-and-butter, and for the time being it would be the
easier course. But we don't want to think of the present only; we want
to provide for the future. I believe--and Stephen agrees with me--that
if we settle here now it will practically mean vegetating for the rest
of our lives. He will remain in the