I can't have sad faces near me.

At my age one needs cheerful companions." And in this hope she carried off Flora de Barral to Bournemouth for the winter months in the quality of reader and companion.

She had said to her with kindly jocularity: "We shall have a good time together.

I am not a grumpy old woman." But on their return to London she sought Mrs.
Fyne at once.

She had discovered that Flora was not naturally cheerful.
When she made efforts to be it was still worse.