| CHAPTER I | CHAPTER II | CHAPTER III | CHAPTER IV | CHAPTER V |
| CHAPTER VI | CHAPTER VII | CHAPTER VIII | CHAPTER IX |
It was Mumford who saw the advertisement and made the suggestion.His wife gave him a startled look.
'But—you don't mean that it's necessary? Have we been extrav—'
'No, no! Nothing of the kind. It just occurred to me that some sucharrangement might be pleasant for you. You must feel lonely, now andthen, during the day, and as we have plenty of room—'
Emmeline took the matter seriously, but, being a young woman of somediscretion, did not voice all her thoughts. The rent was heavy: sowas the cost of Clarence's season-ticket. Against this they had setthe advantage of the fine air of Sutton, so good for the child andfor the mother, both vastly better in health since they quittedLondon. Moreover, the remoteness of their friends favoured economy;they could easily decline invitations, and need not often issuethem. They had a valid excuse for avoiding public entertainments—anexpense so often imposed by mere fashion. The house was roomy, thegarden delightful. Clarence, good fellow, might be sincere in hiswish for her to have companionship; at the same time, thisadvertisement had probably appealed to him in another way.
'A YOUNG LADY desires to find a home with respectable,well-connected family, in a suburb of London, or not more than 15miles from Charing Cross. Can give excellent references. Terms notso much a consideration as comfort and pleasant society. Noboarding-house.—Address: Louise, Messrs. Higgins & Co., FenchurchSt., E.C.'
She read it again and again.
'It wouldn't be nice if people said that we were taking lodgers.'
'No fear of that. This is evidently some well-to-do person. It's avery common arrangement nowadays, you know; they are called "payingguests." Of course I shouldn't dream of having anyone you didn'tthoroughly like the look of.'
'Do you think,' asked Emmeline doubtfully, 'that we should quitedo? "Well-connected family"—'
'My dear girl! Surely we have nothing to be ashamed of?'
'O