The morning after Janet Tosswill's call at Rose Cottage, Rosamund followed her step-mother into the drawing-room immediately after breakfast, and observed plaintively that it did seem strange that "Enid" was never asked to Old Place.

"We take anything from her, and never give anything back," she said.
Janet, who had a certain tenderness for the pretty black sheep of the family, checked the sharp retort which trembled on her lips.

Still, it was quite true that Rosamund had more than once been kept to lunch at The Trellis House, and that on the day of Nanna's accident Mrs.Crofton had issued a sort of general invitation to supper to the young people of Old Place--an invitation finally accepted, at Betty's suggestion, by Godfrey Radmore and Rosamund.
Janet admitted to herself that they did owe Mrs.Crofton some civility.
If the thing had to be done, it might as well be done at once, and so, when Rosamund had reluctantly gone upstairs to do her share of the household work, his mother beckoned Timmy into the drawing-room, and told him that she would have a note ready for him to take to The Trellis House in a few minutes.
"Oh, Mum, do let Jack take it!" the boy exclaimed.

"I can't go to The Trellis House with Flick, and it's such a bore to shut him up." "Why can't Flick go with you ?" "Mum! Don't you remember?
Mrs.Crofton is _terrified_ of dogs.

Do let Jack take it!" "But are you sure Jack is going there this morning ?" she asked, and then she remembered Miss Pendarth's ill-natured remark.
"He goes there every morning," said Timmy positively, "and this morning he's going there extra early, as he's lending Mrs.Crofton our best preserving pan.