As a natural result of this new state of affairs came a shy invitation from Bess asking Ingred to tea at Rotherwood.

After the many previous refusals she would hardly have ventured to give in but for several hints which paved the way.

Circumstances, however, alter cases, and Ingred, who had declared that nothing should induce her to set foot in her old home, was now all eagerness to go.

She was delighted to find that she was to be the only guest.

She felt that on this particular visit even Verity would be _de trop_.
On a certain Tuesday afternoon, therefore, with full permission from Miss Burd, she absented herself from the hostel tea-table, and walked home with Bess instead.