When I put my finger down, I like to be sure what is under it." Miss Panney had other reasons for liking lawyers, for her first real friend had been her legal guardian, old Mr.Bannister of Thorbury.

She was one of the few people of the place who remembered this old gentleman, and she had often told how shocked and pained she had been when summoned from boarding-school to attend his funeral, and how she had been impressed by the idea that the preparations for this important event consisted mainly in beating up eggs, stemming raisins, baking cakes and pies, and making all sorts of provision for the sumptuous entertainment of the people who should be drawn together by the death of the principal citizen of the town.

To her mind it would have been more appropriate had the company been fed on bread and water.
Thomas Bannister, who succeeded to his father's business, had been Miss Panney's legal friend and counsellor for many years.

But he, too, was dead, and the office had now devolved on Herbert Bannister, the grandson of the old gentleman, and the brother of Miss Dora.
Herbert and Miss Panney were very good friends, but not yet cronies.

He was still under thirty, and there were many events of the past of which he knew but little, and about which he could not wholly sympathize with her.