Mrs. Manstey sat down.

"Is there anything I can do for you, ma'am?" Mrs. Black
continued. "My house is full at present, but I am going to build
an extension, and--"

"It is about the extension that I wish to speak," said Mrs.
Manstey, suddenly. "I am a poor woman, Mrs. Black, and I have
never been a happy one. I shall have to talk about myself first
to--to make you understand."

Mrs. Black, astonished but imperturbable, bowed at this
parenthesis.

"I never had what I wanted," Mrs. Manstey continued. "It was
always one disappointment after another. For years I wanted to
live in the country. I dreamed and dreamed about it; but we
never could manage it. There was no sunny window in our house,
and so all my plants died. My daughter married years ago and
went away--besides, she never cared for the same things. Then my
husband died and I was left alone. That was seventeen years ago.
I went to live at Mrs. Sampson's, and I have been there ever
since. I have grown a little infirm, as you see, and I don't get
out often; only on fine days, if I am feeling very well. So you
can understand my sitting a great deal in my window--the back
window on the third floor--"

"Well, Mrs. Manstey," said Mrs. Black, liberally, "I could give
you a back room, I dare say; one of the new rooms in the ex--"