ngs　Miss　Viner　was　bringing　a　long　speech　to　a　triumphant　termination。

〃And　I　said　to　her；　'Not　at　all。　As　it　happens；　Miss　Grey　is　Lady　Tamplin's　own　cousin。'　What　do　you　think　of　that？〃

〃Were　you　fighting　my　battles　for　me？　That　was　very　sweet　of　you。〃

〃You　can　put　it　that　way　if　you　like。　There　is　nothing　to　me　in　a　title。　Vicar's　wife　or　no　vicar's　wife；　that　woman　is　a　cat。　Hinting　you　had　bought　your　way　into　Society。〃

〃Perhaps　she　was　not　so　very　far　wrong。〃

〃And　look　at　you；〃　continued　Miss　Viner。　〃Have　you　e　back　a　stuck…up　fine　lady；　as　well　you　might　have　done？　No；　there　you　are；　as　sensible　as　ever　you　were；　with　a　pair　of　good　Balbriggan　stockings　on　and　sensible　shoes。　I　spoke　to　Ellen　about　it　only　yesterday。　'Ellen；'　I　said；　'you　look　at　Miss　Grey。　She　has　been　hobnobbing　with　some　of　the　greatest　in　the　land；　and　does　she　go　about　as　you　do　with　skirts　up　to　her　knees　and　silk　stockings　that　ladder　when　you　look　at　them；　and　the　most　ridiculous　shoes　that　ever　I　set　eyes　on'。〃

Katherine　smiled　a　little　to　herself；　it　had　apparently　been　worth　while　to　conform　to　Miss　Viner's　prejudices。　The　old　lady　went　on　with　increasing　gusto。

〃It　has　been　a　great　relief　to　me　that　you　have　not　had　your　head　turned。　Only　the　other　day　I　was　looking　for　my　cuttings。　I　have　several　about　Lady　Tamplin　and　her　War　Hospital　and　what　not；　but　I　cannot　lay　my　hand　upon　them。　I　wish　you　would　look；　my　dear；　your　eyesight　is　better　than　mine。　They　are　all　in　a　box　in　the　bureau　drawer。〃

Katherine　glanced　down　at　the　letter　in　her　hand　and　was　about　to　speak；　but　checked　herself；　and　going　over　to　the　bureau　found　the　box　of　cuttings　and　began　to　look　over　them。　Since　her　return　to　St　Mary　Mead　her　heart　had　gone　out　to　M