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similar　post　and　hope　that　you　will　also　accept　a　small　present。　Believe　me；　dear　Miss　Grey；　yours　cordially；
Mary　Anne　Harfield。〃
Katherine　Grey　read　the　letter　through；　smiled　a　little；　and　read　it　a　second　time。　Her　face　as　she　laid　the　letter　down　after　the　second　reading　was　distinctly　amused。　Then　she　took　up　the　second　letter。　After　one　brief　perusal　she　laid　it　down　and　stared　very　straight　in　front　of　her。　This　time　she　did　not　smile。　Indeed；　it　would　have　been　hard　for　anyone　watching　her　to　guess　what　emotions　lay　behind　that　quiet；　reflective　gaze。　

Katherine　Grey　was　thirty…three。　She　came　of　good　family；　but　her　father　had　lost　all　his　money；　and　Katherine　had　had　to　work　for　her　living　from　an　early　age。　She　had　been　just　twenty…three　when　she　had　e　to　old　Mrs　Harfield　as　panion。　

It　was　generally　recognized　that　old　Mrs　Harfield　was　〃difficult。〃　panions　came　and　went　with　startling　rapidity。　They　arrived　full　of　hope　and　they　usually　left　in　tears。　But　from　the　moment　Katherine　Grey　set　foot　in　Little　Crampton；　ten　years　ago；　perfect　peace　had　reigned。　No　one　knows　how　these　things　e　about。　Snake…charmers；　they　say；　are　born；　not　made。　Katherine　Grey　was　born　with　the　power　of　managing　old　ladies；　dogs　and　small　boys；　and　she　did　it　without　any　apparent　sense　of　strain。　

At　twenty…three　she　had　been　a　quiet　girl　with　beautiful　eyes。　At　thirty…three　she　an；　with　those　same　grey　eyes；　shining　steadily　out　on　the　world　with　a　kind　of　happy　serenity　that　nothing　could　shake。　

Moreover；　she　had　been　born　with；　and　still　possessed；　a　sense　of　humour。　

As　she　sat　at　the　breakfast…table；　staring　in　front　of　her；　there　was　a　ring　at　the　bell；　acpanied　by　a　very　energetic　rat…a…tat…tat　at　the　knocker。　In　another　minute　the　little　maid…servant　opened　the　door　and　announced　rather　breathlessly：　

〃Dr　Harrison。〃　

The　big；　middle…aged　doctor　came　buzzing　in　with　the　energy　and　breeziness　that　had　been　fore…shadowed　by　his　onslaught　on　the　knocker。　

〃Good　morning；　Miss　Grey。〃　

〃Good　morning；　Dr　Harrison。〃　

〃I　dropped　in　early；〃　began　the　doctor；　〃in　case　you　should　have　heard　from　one　of　those　Harfield　cousins。　Mrs　Samuel；　she　calls　herself　…　a　perfectly　poisonous　person。〃　

Without　a　word；　Katherine　picked　up　Mrs　Harfield's　letter　from　the　table　and　gave　it　to　him。　With　a　good　deal　of　amusement　she　watched　his　perusal　of　it；　the　drawing　together　of　the　bushy　eyebrows；　the　snorts　and　grunts　of　violent　disapproval。　He　dashed　it　down　again　on　the　table。　

〃Perfectly　monstrous；〃　he　fumed。　〃Don't　you　let　it　worry　you；　my　dear。　They're　talking　through　their　hat。　Mrs　Harfield's　intellect　was　as　good　as　yours　or　mine；　and　you　won't　get　anyone　to　say　the　contrary。　They　wouldn't　have　a　leg　to　stand　upon；　and　they　know　it。　All　that　talk　of　taking　it　into　court　is　pure　bluff。　Hence　this　attempt　to　get　round　you　in　a　hole…and…corner　way。　And　look　here；　my　dear；　don't　let　them　get　round　you　with　soft　soap　either。　Don't　get　fancying　it's　your　duty　to　hand　over　the　cash；　or　any　tomfoolery　of　conscientious　scruples。〃　

〃I'm　afraid　it　hasn't　occurred　to　me　to　have　scruples；〃　said　Katherine。　〃All　these　people　are　distant　relatives　of　Mrs　Harfield's　husband；　and　they　never　came　near　her　or　took　any　notice　of　her　in　her　lifetime。〃　

〃You're　a　sensible　woman；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃I　know；　none　better；　that　you've　had　a　hard　life　of　it　for　the　last　ten　years。　You're　fully　entitled　to　enjoy　the　old　lady's　savings；　such　as　they　were。〃　

Katherine　smiled　thoughtfully。　

〃Such　as　they　were；〃　she　repeated。　〃You've　no　idea　of　the　amount；　doctor？〃　

〃Well　…　enough　to　bring　in　five　hundred　a　year　or　so；　I　suppose。〃　

Katherine　nodded。　

〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　she　said。　〃Now　read　this。〃　

She　handed　him　the　letter　she　had　taken　from　the　long　blue　envelope。　The　doctor　read　and　uttered　an　exclamation　of　utter　astonishment。　

〃Impossible；〃　he　muttered。　〃Impossible。〃　

〃She　was　one　of　the　original　shareholders　in　Mortaulds。　Forty　years　ago　she　must　have　had　an　ine　of　eight　or　ten　thousand　a　year。　She　has　never；　I　am　sure；　spent　more　than　four　hundred　a　year。　She　was　always　terribly　careful　about　money。　I　always　believed　that　she　was　obliged　to　be　careful　about　every　penny。〃　

〃And　all　the　time　the　ine　has　accumulated　at　pound　interest。　My　dear；　you're　going　to　be　a　very　rich　woman。〃　

Katherine　Grey　nodded。　

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　am。〃　

She　spoke　in　a　detached；　impersonal　tone；　as　though　she　were　looking　at　the　situation　from　outside。　

〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor；　preparing　to　depart；　〃you　have　all　my　congratulations。〃　He　flicked　Mrs　Samuel　Harfield's　letter　with　his　thumb。　〃Don't　worry　about　that　woman　and　her　odious　letter。〃　

〃It　really　isn't　an　odious　letter；〃　said　Miss　Grey　tolerantly。　〃Under　the　circumstances；　I　think　it's　really　quite　a　natural　thing　to　do。〃　

〃I　have　the　gravest　suspicions　of　you　sometimes；〃　said　the　doctor。　

〃Why？〃　

〃The　things　that　you　find　perfectly　natural。〃　

Katherine　Grey　laughed。　

Doctor　Harrison　retailed　the　great　news　to　his　wife　at　lunch…time。　She　was　very　excited　about　it。　

〃Fancy　old　Mrs　Harfield　…　with　all　that　money。　I'm　glad　she　left　it　to　Katherine　Grey。　That　girl's　a　saint。〃　

The　doctor　made　a　wry　face。　

〃Saints　I　always　imagine　must　have　been　difficult　people。　Katherine　Grey　is　too　human　for　a　saint。〃　

〃She's　a　saint　with　a　sense　of　humour；〃　said　the　doctor's　wife；　twinkling。　〃And；　though　I　don't　suppose　you've　ever　noticed　the　fact；　she's　extremely　good　looking。〃　

〃Katherine　Grey？〃　The　doctor　was　honestly　surprised。　〃She's　got　very　nice　eyes；　I　know。〃　

〃Oh；　you　men！〃　cried　his　wife。　〃Blind　as　bats。　Katherine's　got　all　the　makings　of　a　beauty　in　her。　All　she　wants　is　clothes！〃　

〃Clothes？　What's　wrong　with　her　clothes？　She　always　looks　very　nice。〃　

Mrs　Harrison　gave　an　exasperated　sigh；　and　the　doctor　rose　preparatory　to　starting　on　his　rounds。　

〃You　might　look　in　on　her；　Polly；〃　he　suggested。　

〃I'm　going　to；〃　said　Mrs　Harrison　promptly。　

She　made　her　call　about　three　o'clock。　

〃My　dear；　I'm　so　glad；〃　she　said　warmly；　as　she　squeezed　Katherine's　hand。　〃And　everyone　in　the　village　will　be　glad　too。〃　

〃It's　very　nice　of　you　to　e　and　tell　me；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　hoped　you　would　e；　because　I　wanted　to　ask　about　Johnnie。〃　

〃Oh！　Johnnie。　Well　…〃　

Johnnie　was　Mrs　Harrison's　youngest　son。　In　another　minute　she　was　off；　retailing　a　long　history　in　which　Johnnie's　adenoids　and　tonsils　bulked　largely。　Katherine　listened　sympathetically。　Habits　die　hard。　Listening　had　been　her　portion　for　ten　years　now。　〃My　dear；　I　wonder　if　I　ever　told　you　about　that　naval　ball　at　Portsmouth？　When　Lord　Charles　admired　my　gown？〃　And　posedly；　kindly；　Katherine　would　reply：　〃I　rather　think　you　have；　Mrs　Harfield；　but　I've　forgotten　about　it。　Won't　you　tell　it　me　again？〃　And　then　the　old　lady　would　start　off　full　swing；　with　numerous　details。　And　half　of　Katherine's　mind　would　be　listening；　saying　the　right　things　mechanically　when　the　old　lady　paused。。。　

Now；　with　that　same　curious　feeling　of　duality　to　which　she　was　accustomed；　she　listened　to　Mrs　Harrison。　

At　the　end　of　half　an　hour；　the　latter　recalled　herself　suddenly。　

〃I've　been　talking　about　myself　all　this　time；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃And　I　came　here　to　talk　about　you　and　your　plans。〃　

〃I　don't　know　that　I've　got　any　yet。〃　

〃My　dear　…　you're　not　going　to　stay　on　here。〃　

Katherine　smiled　at　the　horror　in　the　other's　tone。　

〃No；　I　think　I　want　to　travel。　I've　never　seen　much　of　the　world；　you　know。〃　

〃I　should　think　not。　It　must　have　been　an　awful　life　for　you　cooped　up　here　all　these　years。〃　

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Katherine。　〃It　gave　me　a　lot　of　freedom。〃　

She　caught　the　other's　gasp；　and　reddened　a　little。　

〃It　must　sound　foolish　…　saying　that。　Of　course；　I　hadn't　much　freedom　in　the　downright　physical　sense　…〃　

〃I　should　think　not；〃　breathed　Mrs　Harrison；　remembering　that　Katherine　had　seldom　had　that　useful　thing　as　a　〃day　off。〃　

〃But；　in　a　way；　being　tied　physically　gives　you　lots　of　scope　mentally。　You're　always　free　to　think。　I've　had　a　lovely　feeling　always　of　mental　freedom。〃　

Mrs　Harrison　shook　her　head。　

〃I　can't　understand　that。〃　

〃Oh！　you　would　if　you'd　been　in　my　place。　But；　all　the　same；　I　feel　I　want　a　change。　I　want　…　well；　I　want　things　to　happen。　Oh！　Not　to　me　…　I　don't　mean　that。　But　to　be　in　the　midst　of　things；　exciting　things　…　even　if　I'm　only　the　looker…on。　You　know；　things　don't　happen　in　St　Mary　Mead。〃　

〃They　don't　indeed；〃　said　Mrs　Harrison；　with　fervour。　

〃I　shall　go　to　London　first；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　have　to　see　the　solicitors；　anyway。　After　that；　I　shall　go　abroad；　I　think。〃　

〃Very　nice。〃　

〃But；　of　course；　first　of　all　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃I　must　get　some　clothes。〃　

〃Exactly　what　I　said　to　Arthur　this　morning；〃　cried　the　doctor's　wife。　〃You　know；　Katherine；　you　could　look　possibly　positively　beautiful　if　you　tried。〃　

Miss　Grey　laughed　unaffectedly。　

〃Oh；　I　don't　think　you　could　ever　make　a　beauty　out　of　me；〃　she　said　sincerely。　〃But　I　shall　enjoy　having　some　really　good　clothes。　I'm　afraid　I'm　talking　about　myself　an　awful　lot。〃　

Mrs　Harrison　looked　at　her　shrewdly。　

〃It　must　be　quite　a　novel　experience　for　you；〃　she　said　drily。　

Katherine　went　to　say　good…bye　to　old　Miss　Viner　before　leaving　the　village。　Miss　Viner　was　two　years　older　than　Mrs　Harfield；　and　her　mind　was　mainly　taken　up　with　her　own　success　in　outliving　her　dead　friend。　

〃You　wouldn't　have　thought　I'd　have　outlasted　Jane　Harfield；　would　you？〃　she　demanded　triumphantly　of　Katherine。　〃We　were　at　school　together；　she　and　I。　And　here　we　are；　she　taken；　and　I　left。　Who　would　have　thought　it？〃　

〃You've　always　eaten　brown　bread　for　supper；　haven't　you？〃　murmured　Katherine　mechanically。　

〃Fancy　your　remembering　that；　my　dear。　Yes；　if　Jane　Harfield　had　had　a　slice　of　brown　bread　every　evening　and　taken　a　little　stimulant　with　her　meals　she　might　be　here　today。〃　

The　old　lady　paused；　nodding　her　head　triumphantly；　then　added　in　sudden　remembrance：　

〃And　so　you've　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　I　hear？　Well；　well。　Take　care　of　it。　And　you're　going　up　to　London　to　have　a　good　time？　Don't　think　you'll　get　married；　though；　my　dear；　because　you　won't。　You're　not　the　kind　to　attract　the　men。　And；　besides；　you're　getting　on。　How　old　are　you　now？〃　

〃Thirty…three；〃　Katherine　told　her。　

〃Well；〃　remarked　Miss　Viner　doubtfully；　〃that's　not　so　very　bad。　You've　lost　your　first　freshness；　of　course。〃　

〃I'm　afraid　so；〃　said　Katherine；　much　entertained。　

〃But　you're　a　very　nice　girl；〃　said　Miss　Viner　kindly。　〃And　I'm　sure　there's　many　a　man　might　do　worse　than　take　you　for　a　wife　instead　of　one　of　these　flibbertigibbets　running　about　nowadays　showing　more　of　their　legs　than　the　Creator　ever　intended　them　to。　Good…bye；　my　dear；　and　I　hope　you'll　enjoy　yourself；　but　things　are　seldom　what　they　seem　in　this　life。〃　

Heartened　by　these　prophecies；　Katherine　took　her　departure。　Half　the　village　came　to　see　her　off　at　the　station；　including　the　little　maid　of　all　work；　Alice；　who　brought　a　stiff　wired　nosegay　and　cried　openly。　

〃There　ain't　a　many　like　her；〃　sobbed　Alice　when　the　train　had　finally　departed。　〃I'm　sure　when　Charlie　went　back　on　me　with　that　girl　from　the　Dairy；　nobody　could　have　been　kinder　than　Miss　Grey　was；　and　though　particular　about　the　brasses　and　the　dust；　she　was　always　one　to　notice　when　you'd　give　a　thing　an　extra　rub。　Cut　myself　in　little　pieces　for　her；　I　would；　any　day。　A　real　lady；　that's　what　I　call　her。〃　

Such　was　Katherine's　departure　from　St　Mary　Mead。　

Chapter　8　

LADY　TAMPLIN　WRITES　A　LETTER

〃Well；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃well。〃　

She　laid　down　the　continental　Daily　Mail　and　stared　out　across　the　blue　waters　of　the　Mediterranean。　A　branch　of　golden　mimosa；　hanging　just　above　her　head；　made　an　effective　frame　for　a　very　charming　picture。　A　golden…haired；　blue…eyed　lady　in　a　very　being　negligee。　That　the　golden　hair　owed　something　to　art；　as　did　the　pink…and…white　plexion；　was　undeniable；　but　the　blue　of　the　eyes　was　Nature's　gift；　and　at　forty…four　Lady　Tamplin　could　still　rank　as　a　beauty。　

Charming　as　she　looked；　Lady　Tamplin　was；　for　once；　not　thinking　of　herself。　That　is　to　say；　she　was　no