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"This is the office," said Lesley. "I hope you'll find everything you want. I wonder where Mr. Hightower is. He said he would explain things to you. . . ." She looked round vaguely, as if she expected to see him somewhere in the room.

There was a step outside the door, and a woman crossed the landing.

"Oh, Mrs. Benson. Do you know where Mr. Hightower is?"

"Yes, Miss, I think he's dressing."

"Oh. . . ." Lesley appeared a little startled. "I hope he'll be here soon. He said he'd explain things to Mrs. Gailey. She's our new secretary."

The woman came forward into the room and stared at Rosamund, who nodded and smiled, without any response. She was very different from Mrs. Turner, being small and prettily dressed in a printed cotton frock, with gay red shoes.

"I dare say he won't be long," she said indifferently.

"I hope he won't, for I mustn't keep Mrs. Turner waiting. She wants to speak to me about the stove."

"It's high time something was done. We can't go on like this."

The snap was so sudden that Rosamund jumped as well as Lesley. She was the first to speak. "You two been fighting over the stove? Am I right or am I?"