"Why should they trouble about an old fellow like me ?" "Oh well!" said Miss Tranter cheerfully, "it's just because you _are_ an old fellow, I suppose! You see you might walk to a station to-day, and take the train as far as Minehead before starting on the road again.
Anyhow you've time to think it over.

If you'll step into the room yonder, I'll send Prue with your breakfast." She turned her back upon him, and with a shrill call of "Prue! Prue!" affected to be too busy to continue the conversation.

Helmsley, therefore, went as she bade him into the common room, which at this hour was quite empty.

A neat white cloth was spread at one end of the table, and on this was set a brown loaf, a pat of butter, a jug of new milk, a basin of sugar, and a brightly polished china cup and saucer.

The window was open, and the inflow of the pure fresh morning air had done much to disperse the odours of stale tobacco and beer that subtly clung to the walls as reminders of the drink and smoke of the previous evening.
Just outside, a tangle of climbing roses hung like a delicate pink curtain between Helmsley's eyes and the sunshine, while the busy humming of bees in and out the fragrant hearts of the flowers, made a musical monotony of soothing sound.