Lady Anstruthers already looked much stronger, but she had been delicate so long that one hesitated to distress her with village matters.

She did not add that she realised that she was coming to headquarters.

The vicar and herself were much disturbed about a rather tiresome old woman--old Mrs.Welden--who lived in a tiny cottage in the village.

She was eighty-three years old, and a respectable old person--a widow, who had reared ten children.

The children had all grown up, and scattered, and old Mrs.Welden had nothing whatever to live on.