Well, who could wonder?
Mrs.Gaddesden reflected, with some complacency, that even she had spoken her mind to her father that night, conveniently forgetting some annoying retorts of his about herself, and the custom she had developed of sitting for hours over the fire pretending to knit, but really doing nothing.

After her enormous exertions in the cause of the war--she was accustomed to say--of the year before, she was in need of a rest.

She was certainly taking it.
Since Pamela left, indeed, she had been obliged to do the housekeeping, and considered it very hard work.

She had never yet been able to calculate the food coupons correctly.
So she, like all the rest, was looking eagerly for Elizabeth.
Yes!--that was the cracked horn of the village taxi.

Mrs.Gaddesden poked the fire with energy and rang for Forest.