Curiosity was never a fault of mine though I do say it.

Still a woman does like to know who's setting in her front parlour." "And you shall," declared Callandar kindly.

"Just hang on a few moments longer, dear Mrs.Sykes, and your non-existent but very justifiable curiosity shall be satisfied." The parlour at Mrs.Sykes opened to the right of the narrow hall.

Its two windows, distinguished by eternally half-drawn blinds of yellow, looked out upon the veranda, permitting a decorous gloom to envelop the sacred precincts.

Mrs.Sykes was too careful a housekeeper to take risks with her carpet and too proud of her possessions to care to hide their glories altogether; hence the blinds were never wholly drawn and never raised more than half way.