This reason was that she was very, very poor.

Before the War, her little settled income had enabled her to live in comfort in a house which was her own.

But now, had not her one servant been friend as well as maid, she could not have gone on living in Rose Cottage; and during the last year, as Betty Tosswill perhaps alone had noticed, certain beautiful things, fine bits of good old silver, delicate inlaid pieces of furniture, and a pair of finely carved gilt mirrors, had disappeared from Rose Cottage.
The house was situated in the village street, with, however, a paved forecourt, in which stood two huge Italian oil jars gay from April to November with narcissi, tulips, or pink geraniums.

Miss Pendarth was proud of the fine old Sussex ironwork gate and railing which separated her domain from the village street.

The gate was exactly opposite the entrance to the churchyard, while at right angles stood the village post office.