"I wired Herbert to have everything ready at my place, though I shall spend the night at Brantholme."
"The Lodge is let. Didn't you know?"
"I understood that the man's tenancy ran out a few weeks ago."
"He renewed it. Herbert didn't know you were coming over; the terms were good."
"Then I'm homeless for a time."
"Oh, no!" said Ethel. "Stephen wanted me to insist on your coming with us now, but I know you will want to see Muriel and have a talk with her. However, we'll expect you to come and take up your quarters with us to-morrow."
George looked at her in some surprise.
"I'd be delighted, but Herbert will expect me to stay with him, and, of course—"
"Sylvia hadn't arrived this afternoon; she was at Mrs. Kettering's," Ethel told him. "But remember that you must stay with us until you make your arrangements. We should find it hard to forgive you if you went to anybody else."
"I wouldn't think of it, only that Herbert's the obvious person to entertain me," George replied, though he was a little puzzled by the insistence, and Ethel abruptly began to talk of something else.