Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/175

176 always has and it always will. What I say is, don't go to meet trouble half way, and then as like as not you won't meet it at all."

"That's just what I think," said Jane eagerly. "Oh, Mrs. Doveton, we're so fond of you! I hate to think of parting—and you know you like us too."

"I've been very comfortable with you, miss, I'm sure," said Mrs. Doveton temperately. "Don't you worry about me. We shall meet again, no doubt, if it's for the best."

It was then that Jane leaped up and clapped her hands, startling Mrs. Doveton to something that was almost a jump. "I've got it!" she shouted. "Oh, hooray! Look here, Mrs. Doveton. Hope Cottage is not going to be let. It's to be kept just as it is, only spick and span, with none of our untidy rubbish lying about. Of course someone will have to keep it like that. Would you like to live there, with your son, of course, and have the kitchen and the two back bedrooms and the little back parlour, and just keep the house tidy?"

But even that suggestion Mrs. Doveton did not grasp at. She merely asked what the rent would be.

"Why, nothing!" said Jane. "We lend you half the house in return for your keeping the other half tidy. And there's the bit of garden and everything."

"It's rather a large garden—more like a pleasure-garden, miss, isn't it? But there, thank you for the offer, I'm sure. I'll talk it over with Herb to-night and let you know to-morrow, if that will do. And perhaps I'd better be moving on."

And she did.

"Heigho!" said Lucilla, stretching her arms. "How disappointing people are! I did think she'd love it. But no! And not even half Hope Cottage, rent free, for that's what it comes to. She isn't pleased. She'll only talk it over with Herb. It's rather disheartening, isn't it?" "It's exactly like us for not being pleased when we got Cedar Court," said Jane. "Hear the words of wisdom—wonderful in one so young, isn't it? But it was a facer!