"Oh, I am glad for her sake, of course; but I have had four sheets from her showing me how impossible it is for mother to live alone, and imploring me to take the children and make Whitecroft my home."
"A most sensible arrangement. It is a roomy old house, and nearer town than this is. You will be very happy there, my dear!"
"I like a house of my own. I have always had it."
"Yes, but your mother is a dear, gentle, old lady. Madge always ran the house, and you can do the same."
Geraldine sighed again.
"I hate changes, and Madge is going to be married in a fortnight and going straight out to the Cape with Frank, and she wants me to pack up my things and go to mother the end of this month."
"Sir Arthur will let you off the rent of this, and nowadays he will have no trouble in getting another tenant. I would take it on myself if I had enough money."
"But you will be with us, of course."
Mrs. Arbuthnot raised a startled face to her sister-in-law.
Rowena swung herself up on the low window-ledge, and sat there with her hands in her pockets, and her feet swinging to and fro. She whistled softly to herself, but did not speak for a minute, and Mrs. Arbuthnot repeated her words: