"John will show you your room. Supper is at
half-past seven. We have given up late
dinner for some time now. Lady
Tadminster, our Member's wife she was
the late Lord
Abbotsbury's daughter does the same. She
agrees with me that one must set an
example of economy. We are quite a war
household; nothing is wasted here every
scrap of waste paper, even, is saved and
sent away in sacks."
I expressed my appreciation, and John took
me into the house and up the broad
staircase, which forked right and left halfway to different wings of the building. My
room was in the left wing, and looked out
over the park.
The evening passed pleasantly enough;
and I dreamed that night of that
enigmatical woman, Mary Cavendish.
The next morning dawned bright and
sunny, and I was full of the anticipation
of a delightful visit.
I did not see Mrs. Cavendish until lunchtime, when she volunteered to take me
for a walk, and we spent a charming
afternoon roaming in the woods,
returning to the house about five.
As we entered the large hall, John
beckoned us both into the smoking-room.
I saw at once by his face that something
disturbing had occurred. We followed him
in, a