end。

〃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。