Make your home with us, Stella, for a little while and hold your head high." Jane Repton had talked over this proposal with her husband.

Both of them recognised that the acceptance of it would entail on them some little sacrifice.

Prejudice would be difficult.

But they had thrust these considerations aside in the loyalty of their friendship and Jane Repton was a little hurt that Stella waved away their invitation without ceremony.
"I can't.

I can't," she said irritably.