The rector understood now exactly why it was that his father had exclaimed, on the news of Philippa's engagement, without a second's hesitation, "Then, of course, Juliana must live with you! Nonsense, my dear boy, nonsense! It's my duty to spare her to you.

After all, I can always eat at the club; they can give me a bite of something or other, surely.

To a man of my age, Edward, food is really of no consequence.

No, no; Juliana must move into the rectory at once." The rector's elder sister rose.

She looked tall and sallow and forbidding in the plain black dress that contrasted sadly with the charming clerical costumes of white and pink and the broad episcopal hats with flowers in them that Philippa used to wear for morning work in the parish.
"For what time shall I order dinner ?" she asked.