Mary said, a shade of trouble on her forehead, "It's silly of me, but I can't bear it when anyone doesn't like me. I want people to like me."

"Sure to be women who don't like you, Mary! Jealous cats who think you're too good-looking!"

Mary said, "I think jealousy's horrible."

Ted said slowly, "Maybe - but it exists all right. Say, I saw a lovely film over at Alledore last week. Clark Gable. All about one of these millionaire blokes who neglected his wife, and then she pretended she'd done the dirty on him. And there was another fellow -"

Mary moved away. She said, "Sorry, Ted, I must go. I'm late."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to have tea with Nurse Hopkins."

Ted made a face. "Funny taste. That woman's the biggest gossip in the village! Pokes that long nose of hers into everything." Mary said, "She's been very kind to me always."

"Oh, I'm not saying there's any harm in her. But she talks." Mary said, "Good-bye, Ted."

She hurried off, leaving him standing gazing resentfully after her. V

Nurse Hopkins occupied a small cottage at the end of the village. She herself had just come in and was untying her bonnet strings when Mary entered.

33

"Ah, there you are. I'm a bit late. Old Mrs. Caldecott was bad again. Made me late with my round of dressings. I saw you with Ted Bigland at the end of the street."

Mary said rather dispiritedly, "Yes."

Nurse Hopkins looked up alertly from where she was stooping to light the gas-ring under the kettle.

Her long nose twitched. "Was he saying something particular to you, my dear?"

"No. He just asked me to go to the movies."

"I see," said Nurse Hopkins promptly. "Well, of course, he's a nice young fellow and doesn't do too badly at the garage, and his father does rather better than most of the farmers round here. All the same, my dear, you don't seem to me cut out for Ted Bigland's wife. Not with your education and all. As I was saying, if I was you I'd go in for massage when the time comes. You get about a bit and see people that way, and your time's more or less your own."

Mary said, "I'll think it over. Mrs. Welman spoke to me the other day. She was very sweet about it. It was just exactly as you said it was. She doesn't want me to go away just now. She'd miss me, she said. But she told me not to worry about the future, that she meant to help me." Nurse Hopkins said dubiously, "Let's hope she's put that down in black and white! Sick people are odd."

Mary asked, "Do you think Mrs. Bishop really dislikes me - or is it only my fancy?"

Nurse Hopkins considered a minute.

34