So she had fallen back on conversation with her cousin.

That Cousin Hester--dear, shapeless, Puritanical thing!--disapproved of her, her dress, her smoking, her ways, and her opinions, Cicely well knew--but that only gave zest to their meetings, which were not very frequent.
Meanwhile Bridget, in lieu of conversation and while tea was still preparing, was making mental notes of the cottage.

It consisted apparently of two sitting-rooms, and a studio--in which they were to have tea--with two or three bedrooms above.

It had been developed out of a Westmorland farm, but developed beyond recognition.

The spacious rooms panelled in plain oak, were furnished sparely, with few things, but those of the most beautiful and costly kind.