VElinor had not taken more than half a dozen steps—she was still laughing—when a hand fell onher arm from behind. She stopped abruptly¹ and turned.

Dr. Lord looked straight at her, his brow creased² into a frown.

He said peremptorily³:

“What were you laughing at?”

Elinor said:

“Really—I don’t know.”

Peter Lord said:

“That’s rather a silly answer!”

Elinor flushed. She said:

“I think I must be nervous—or something. I looked in at the District Nurse’s cottage and—andMary Gerrard was writing out her will. It made me laugh; I don’t know why!”

Lord said abruptly:

“Don’t you?”

Elinor said:

“It was silly of me—I tell you—I’m nervous.”

Peter Lord said:

“I’ll write you out a tonic⁴.”

Elinor said incisively⁵:

“How useful!”

He grinned disarmingly.

“Quite useless, I agree. But it’s the only thing one can do when people won’t tell one what is thematter with them!”

Elinor said:

“There’s nothing the matter with me.”

Peter Lord said calmly:

“There’s quite a lot the matter with you.”

Elinor said:

“I’ve had a certain amount of nervous strain, I suppose….”

He said:

“I expect you’ve had quite a lot. But that’s not what I’m talking about.” He paused. “Are you—are you staying down here much longer?”

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“You won’t—live down here?”

Elinor shook her head.

“No—never. I think—I think—I shall sell the place if I can get a good offer.”

Dr. Lord said rather flatly:

“I see….”

Elinor said:

“I must be getting home now.”

She held out her hand firmly. Peter Lord took it. He held it. He said very earnestly:

“Miss Carlisle, will you please tell me what was in your mind when you laughed just now?”

She wrenched⁶ her hand away quickly.

“What should there be in my mind?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

His face was grave and a little unhappy.

Elinor said impatiently:

“It just struck me as funny, that was all!”

“That Mary Gerrard was making a will? Why? Making a will is a perfectly⁷ sensible procedure.

Saves a lot of trouble. Sometimes, of course, it makes trouble!”

Elinor said impatiently:

“Of course—everyone should make a will. I didn’t mean that.”

Dr. Lord said:

“Mrs. Welman ought to have made a will.”

Elinor said with feeling:

“Yes, indeed.”

The colour rose in her face.

Dr. Lord said unexpectedly:

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you said just now everyone should make a will! Have you?”

Elinor stared at him for a minute, then she laughed.

“How extraordinary!” she said. “No, I haven’t. I hadn’t thought of it! I’m just like Aunt Laura.

Do you know, Dr. Lord, I shall go home and write to Mr. Seddon about it at once.”

Peter Lord said:

“Very sensible.”

 

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