funeral, she made her way to her own bare little room. How cold and bare
it was! With the exception of the framed pictures of her father and
mother and a small photograph of Eddie, taken before he had gone out,
there was nothing but the absolutely necessary furniture. Miss Wickham's
ideas of what a 'companion's' room should be like had partaken of the
austere. And all the rest of the house was so crowded and overloaded
with things. The drawing-room had always been an eyesore to Nora,
crammed as it was with little tables and cabinets containing china. And
in every available space there were porcelain ornaments and photographs
in huge silver frames. It was all like a badly arranged museum or a
huddled little curio shop. Well, she would soon be done with that, too!

Armed with her portfolio and writing materials Nora returned to the
guest chamber, which was her temporary abode. The motherly Kate was
waiting with an appetizing lunch on a neat tray. What a good friend she
had been. She would be genuinely sorry to part with Kate. She must ask
her to give her some address that would always reach her. Who knew,
years hence when she returned to England, but what she might afford to
set up a modest flat with Kate to manage things for her. She would speak
to her on the morrow--after the will was read.

"Ah, Kate, you knew just what would tempt me. Thank you so much! By the
way, has Miss Pringle sent any message?"

"Yes, Miss. Miss Pringle stopped on her way to the village a moment ago.
She was with Mrs. Hubbard and had only a moment. I was to tell you that
she would call this afternoon and hoped you could see her. I told her,
Miss, that the doctor had said you were not to go to the burial. She
will come while they are away."