CHAPTER VII
MR. HEDDERWICK'S FIRST ADVENTURE
"Alicia, my dear," said Robert Hedderwick to his wife, as he was smoking after dinner, "shall we talk about our annual holiday?"
His wife, a determined lady of forty-five—six years younger than he,—put down her knitting.
"By all means, Robert, if you wish. But I do not know what there is to discuss. It is not yet July and we never go away till August, so there is plenty of time."
"But why should we not go away in July this year?" he suggested, somewhat diffidently.
"Why should we?"
"Well ... it would be a change...."
"A most undesirable and unnecessary change," said his wife decisively, picking up her knitting again. "August is the hottest month, and August in London would be unbearable. Besides, change for the mere sake of change is childish. You might as well suggest our going somewhere else than Cromer."