THE HAZLEWOODS In the quiet country town obvious changes had taken place during the eight years of Stella's absence.

They were not changes of importance, however, and one sentence can symbolize them all--there was now tarmac upon its roads.

But in the cluster of houses a mile away at the end of the deep lane the case was different.

Mr.Harold Hazlewood had come to Little Beeding.

He now lived in the big house to which the village owed its name and indeed its existence.