"Thank you," said Juliet, with her friendly smile. "I am enjoying it very much."
They travelled forty miles before they ran back again into Little Shale, and the children were reassembling for afternoon school as they neared the Court gates.
"Put me down here!" Juliet said. "I can run down the hill. It isn't worth while coming those few yards and having to turn the car."
"I want you to lunch with me," said Mrs. Fielding.
"Oh, thank you very much. Not to-day. I really must get back. I've got to buy cakes for tea," laughed Juliet.
Mrs. Fielding stopped the car abruptly. "I'm not going to press you, or you'll never come near me again," she said. "I never press people to do what they obviously don't want to. Do you think you would hate living with me, Miss Moore? Or are you still giving the matter your consideration?"
There was a hint of wistfulness in the arrogant voice that somehow touched Juliet.
She sat silent for a moment; then: "If I might come to you for a week on trial," she said. "You won't pay me anything of course. I think we should know by that time if it were likely to answer or not."
"When will you come?" said Mrs. Fielding.
"Just when you like," said Juliet.