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　fri