Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/281

282 said, after a long talk about the aims of art, and about life being real, life being earnest, "I wonder whether you'd let the other cottage to me—the one Mr. Dix doesn't have?"

"Oh," said Jane, quite hurt by this sudden defection of a new found friend and always satisfactory P.G., "aren't you happy with us?" "I'm sure I should be, very happy," said Miss Antrobus, "but one never knows what may turn up; and even if I stayed here I should like to have the cottage, and to pay rent for it, of course. Would thirty shillings a week"

"I should think so," said Jane forlornly; "but your going will rather break up the happy home, won't it?"

"How nice of you to say that! But it won't really. And I want to go in for gardening, and living the simple life."

Meeting just before luncheon, Jane and Lucilla compared notes. "I feel as if I were being chaperoned—by Mr. Tombs," said Lucilla. "You're right, "said Jane, with sudden conviction; "that's what Miss Antrobus has been doing to me."

They were all together in the drawing-room—and the Thorntons still hadn't come—when the blow fell. Forbes, looking thoroughly scandalised, announced:

"The police-inspector, please, ma'am—to see the lady of the house."

And before she could back out of the room the inspector had squeezed himself past her into it.

"Sorry to inconvenience you, miss," he said, breathing heavily, "but from information received, I understand there's three parties under the name of Thornton living here."

"Yes," said Jane.

"Well, miss, the fact is they're wanted. I should wish to break it gently, but the fact is there've been a lot of burglaries, and—I'm very sorry it should happen to friends of yours—but I'm sure you're innocent as the lamb unborn, miss."

"Of course we are," said Lucilla impatiently, "and so are the Thorntons. There was a burglar here a few days