“Yes but the others? The Manns and the Irish journalist.”
“She’d be clever to get anything out of any of them .”
“I wonder she didn’t try Mrs. Barrow. She’s kind I’m sure and gullible.”
“She’s very kind no doubt in her way. Anyway she’s not one of those who live on a widow woman and pay nothing.”
The old sense of the house was crumbling. To Mrs. Bailey it was worry and things she could not talk about to anyone, and a few nice people here and there. And all the time she was polite ; as if she liked them all, equally. And they were polite. Everyone was polite. And behind it was all this. Shifts and secrets and strange characters. When they were all together at Mrs. Bailey’s dinner, they were all carrying things off, politely. Perhaps already she regretted having sent away the lodgers.
“The doctors were nice people to have in the house.”
“Wasn’t they dear boys? Very nice gentlemen. Canadians are the ones to my mind, though I believe as much as any in standing by your own. But you’ve got to consider your interests.”
“Of course.”
“That’s why I mean to ad ver tiss. My word those Hurds are good friends if you like. I couldn’t tell you. The old man’s put an advert for me in the Canadian place in the city.”
“Then you’ll have a houseful of Canadians.”
“That’s what I hope . The more the better of their kind.”
“We shall all be speaking Canadian.”
“Well, since we’re on the subject, Mrs. Hurd advises me to go to Canada. Says it’s all work and no pay over here. Everybody expects too much for