“Ursula! I am glad to see you!” Julia Earle moved forward to the carriage door to greet the tall, well-dressed woman who stepped down on the platform of the tiny station of Ash in Surrey.
“Julia! This is nice!” They kissed affectionately, then the new arrival swung round to a second woman who had followed in the wake of the first.
“And Marjorie! My goodness, Marjorie,”—they also kissed—“when I remember the last time I saw you! I declare we haven’t met since Bolsover. How many years ago is that?”
“Don’t let’s think. You’re not much altered, Ursula. I should have known you easily.”
“Nor are you; wonderfully little.” She turned back to the first woman. “And how’s the world, Julia?”
“Julia! This is nice!” They kissed affectionately, then the new arrival swung round to a second woman who had followed in the wake of the first.
“And Marjorie! My goodness, Marjorie,”—they also kissed—“when I remember the last time I saw you! I declare we haven’t met since Bolsover. How many years ago is that?”
“Don’t let’s think. You’re not much altered, Ursula. I should have known you easily.”
“Nor are you; wonderfully little.” She turned back to the first woman. “And how’s the world, Julia?”