“She’s gone back to her married daughter in Chester. Her son-in-law has a lamp shop, she says.”

They moved into the little kitchen.

“I wish I’d known you were coming,” said Lily; “I wouldn’t have let the maid go out. But really, when I’m alone, there seems no reason for her to stay in. I generally have a cup of tea by myself in here.”

“Well, then,” said Mary, “let’s have it here together.”

“Oh, yes, let’s! How nice.”

“May I take off my coat, and I’ll help you?”

“Of course.”

Smiling, Lily took plates from the rack. Mary cut bread and butter. Lily heated the kettle on the ring. Mary fetched the teapot. Lily watched.

“Is that how you warm the pot?” she asked.

“Yes. It prevents it from cracking.”

“Oh! what a good idea. I should never have thought of that. I must remember it.”

They sat down. Mary sipped the tea with relish. It was better than she could afford. And how Lily wasted it!

“I really came here to thank you,” she said, “for Anne’s wedding present. She’ll come herself as soon as she’s back in London, but she’s staying at the Ramsbothams’ just now.”

“Yes, she wrote and told me so.”

“Really, Lily, it was most awfully good of you. It’ll be quite the show piece at the wedding. We shall have to hire a detective to watch it.”

Lily smiled: “It was in my aunt’s family.”

“A friend of ours from the British Museum saw it the other day. He says it’s Jacobean.”

“Yes.”

“You know, you really shouldn’t have——”

Lily smiled. And suddenly she was no longer young. There were crow’s-feet round her eyes. And her throat drew tight, a trifle skinny.

“I thought Anne might like to have it.”

“You should have kept it for Eric.”

Lily smiled.

“I sometimes think,” she said, “that Eric isn’t going to marry.”

“Maurice always says that too,” Mary laughed.

But she never felt quite comfortable with Lily on the subject of Eric.

“Please tell me about the wedding.”

“Well—it’s to be at Chapel Bridge.”

Lily’s eyes lighted up.

“Oh, I’m so glad!”

“And Maurice is to be Best Man. So we’re keeping it all in the family.”

“And have you fixed the date yet?”

“Not exactly. But some time in February.”

“And what will Anne wear?”

Mary went into details. Lily was delighted.

“I’m so glad it’s going to be a nice grand affair. Nowadays the weddings seem so plain and informal.”

Mary couldn’t help smiling, thinking of her own. She said:

“And of course you’ll come?”

“Shall I? Really?”

“But, of course, you must support me. I can’t face the second Mrs. Ramsbotham alone.”

Lily laughed, with childish pleasure.

“Yes, I think I really must.”

*   *   *