Then there was that matter of the Lane here." "Oh, that precious Lane! I wish I had never seen it." "I have wished that a number of times in the past few months.

But it is here and the question overshadows everything else in the village just now.

It does not seem of much importance to you, perhaps; perhaps it is not so very important to me; but--" Again she interrupted me.
"I think it is important enough to make you forget--ordinary courtesy," she declared.

"Yes, courtesy.

DON'T look at me like that! You know what I mean.