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laugh, “She's making her will, that's what she's doing.”
    “Making her will?” Suddenly Elinor laughed-a strange laugh - almost hysterical.
    She said, “So you're making your will, Mary. That's funny. That's very funny.” Still laughing, she turned away and walked rapidly along the street.
    Nurse Hopkins stared. “Did you ever? What's come to her?” IV
    Elinor had not taken more than half a dozen steps - she was still laughing - when a hand fell on her arm from behind. She stopped abruptly and turned. Dr. Lord looked straight at her, his brow creased into a frown. He said peremptorily, “What were you laughing at?”
    Elinor said, “Really -I don't know.”
    Peter Lord said, “That's rather a silly answer!”
    Elinor flushed. She said, “I think I must be nervous or something. I looked in at the District Nurse's cottage and - and Mary Gerrard was writing out her will. It made me laugh; I don't know why!”
    Lord said abruptly, “Don't you?”
    Elinor said, “It was silly of me -I tell you - I'm nervous.”
    Peter Lord said, “I'll write you out a tonic.”
    Elinor said incisively, “How useful!”
    He grinned disarmingly. “Quite useless, I agree. But it's the only thing one can do when people won't tell one what is the matter with them!”
    Elinor said, “There's nothing the matter with me.”
    Peter Lord said calmly, “There's quite a lot the matter with you.”
    Elinor said, “I've had a certain amount of nervous strain I suppose.”
    He said, “I expect you've had quite a lot. But that's not what I'm talking about.” He paused. “Are you - are you staying down here much longer?”
    “I'm leaving tomorrow.” “You won't - live down here?”
    Elinor shook her head. “No - never. I think -I think -I shall sell the place if I can get a good offer.”
    Dr. Lord said rather flatly, “I see.”
    Elinor said, “I must be getting home now.”
    She held out her hand very firmly. Peter Lord took it. He held it. He said very earnestly, “Miss Carlisle, will you please tell me what was in your mind when you laughed just now?”
    She wrenched her hand away quickly. “What should there be in my mind?”
    “That's what I'd like to know.”
    His face was grave and a little unhappy.
    Elinor said impatiently, “It just struck me as funny, that was all!”
    “That Mary Gerrard was making a will? Why? Making a will is a perfectly sensible procedure. Saves a lot of trouble. Sometimes, of course, it makes trouble!”
    Elinor said impatiently, “Of course - everyone should make a will. I didn't mean that.”
    Dr. Lord said, “Mrs. Welman ought to have made a will.”
    Elinor said with feeling, “Yes, indeed.”
    The colour rose in her face.
    Dr. Lord said unexpectedly, “What about you?”
    “Me?”
    “Yes, you said just now everyone should make a will! Have you?”
    Elinor stared at him for a minute, then she laughed. “How extraordinary!” she said. “No, I haven't. I hadn't thought of it! I'm just like Aunt Laura. Do you know, Dr. Lord, I shall go home and write to Mr. Seddon about it at once.”
    Peter Lord said, “Very sensible.”

Sad Cypress
    V
    In the library Elinor had just finished a letter:
    DEAR Mr. Seddon, - Will you draft a will for me to sign? Quite a simple one. I want to leave everything to Roderick Welman absolutely.
    Yours sincerely,
    Elinor Carlisle.
    She glanced at the clock. The post would be going in a few minutes. She opened the drawer of the desk, then remembered she had used the last stamp that morning. There were some in her bedroom she was sure. She went upstairs. When she re-entered the library with the stamp in her hand, Roddy was standing by the window.
    He said, “So we leave here tomorrow. Good old Hunterbury. We've had some good times here.”
    Elinor said, “Do you mind its being sold?”
    “Oh, no, no! I quite see it's the best thing to be done.”
    There was a silence. Elinor picked up her letter, glanced through it to see if it was all right. Then she sealed