Here, indeed, she breathed the air of the hills, but villas on either hand obstructed the view, and brought London much nearer than the measured distance.

Like her friends and neighbours, Emmeline enjoyed Sutton because it was a most respectable little portion of the great town, set in a purer atmosphere.

The country would have depressed her.
In this respect Miss Derrick proved a congenial companion.

Louise made no pretence of rural inclinations, but had a great liking for tree-shadowed asphalte, for the results of elaborate horticulture, for the repose and the quiet of villadom.
'I should like to have a house just like this,' she declared, on her first evening at "Runnymede," talking with her host and hostess out in the garden.

'It's quite big enough, unless, of course, you have a very large family, which must be rather a bore.' She laughed ingenuously.