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the amount of those costly items was out of proportion to receipts.
    “I didn’t want to make it into a Dothegirls Hall such as Mr. Dickens wrote about in his wonderful book. I didn’t want that at all. I wanted my school to be…just as I wanted it, and if it can’t be that, then I’d rather there was no school. So that is how it is going to be, Cordelia. I can’t say I’m sorry myself. I wanted to pass it on to you, but there is no point in passing on a concern which would have tottered into bankruptcy. No, cut your losses, said I. And that is what I am doing. In our new home we’ll all have a rest for a while and we’ll plan what we are going to do next.”
    She made it all sound like a new and exciting adventure on which we were embarking and I caught her enthusiasm.
    In the afternoon when classes were in progress I went for a walk. I left about two o’clock intending to be back before it was dark, which would be soon after four. School would be breaking up in the next week or so and after that only one more term. There would be the bustle of departure; the mistresses would be arranging journeys for the girls, seeing them to trains, just as it had been at Schaffenbrucken. I supposed many of the teachers were anxious, wondering about their new posts and certain that they would not find many employers as easy-going as Aunt Patty had been.
    I detected an air of melancholy over the house. Both pupils and mistresses had appreciated the atmosphere of Grantley Manor.
    Without Aunt Patty at my side to stress how wonderful everything was going to be, I too felt the depression. I tried to imagine what my future would be. I couldn’t just live all my life in a country village even though Aunt Patty would be with me. Somehow I did not think Aunt Patty believed I could either. I had caught her almost speculative gaze on me, rather secretive as though she had something up her sleeve which she was going to produce to the wonderment of all who perceived it.
    I always enjoyed my first walk after returning to Grantley. I usually went into the little town of Canterton, looked into the shops and stopped for a chat with the people I knew. It was always a pleasure. Today it seemed different. I did not feel the same urge to talk to people. I wondered how much they knew about Aunt Patty’s move and I couldn’t really talk about something of which I knew so little as yet.
    I passed the woods and noticed that there were plenty of berries on the holly this year. The girls would be picking it very soon now for the last week of term would be given over to Christmas jollity. They had already decorated the Christmas tree in the common room and put the presents they had bought for each other under it. Then there would be a concert and carol singing in the chapel. The last time…What a sad phrase that was.
    A pale winter sun momentarily showed itself between the clouds. There was a chill in the air but it was mildish for the time of year.
    There were not many people about. I had not met anyone since I had left the Manor. I glanced toward the wood and wondered whether the girls would find much mistletoe this year. They usually had to hunt for it, which made it seem precious, and made a great show of fixing it in those places where they could be caught and kissed—if there were any males about who might be tempted to do so.
    I hesitated by the woods. Then as I was deciding that I would skirt them and go as far as the town without actually going in, I heard a footstep behind me. I felt a rush of emotion and told myself afterwards that I knew who it was going to be before I turned around.
    “Why?” I cried. “You…here?”
    “Yes,” he said with a smile. “You told me you lived in Canterton so I thought I would have a look at it.”
    “Are you…staying here?”
    “Briefly,” he replied.
    “On your way to—”
    “Somewhere else. I thought I would call to see you while I was here, but before doing so I was hoping to meet you so that