Sooner or Later [antikvár]

SOONER OR LATERCHAPTER ONE"VOU gets troubles sooner or later, dearyperhaps * you're lucky to be havin' yours now." "But somé people have them always," Mary Ottley sighed. "Think of my mother, Mrs. Mixey. She always had troubles, ever since I can remember.""That's a matter of thirteen years, no more, I sup-pose, and before that perhaps she was happy enough." Mrs. Mixey földed a pillow-case carefully and looked round the dismantled room."I don't believe itmy father was so wildand she loved him for years before they could marry ; and then almost immediately the War came and he was in Francé all the time, and then he was killed in 1917 when I was only three years old.""Well the poor dear's happy now among the angels anyway, Mary, and you must not grieve more than you can help, girlie."It was difficult not to grieve. The very thought of her mother still brought tears to Mary's eyes. She had been so sweet and unselfish and gentle, and so courageous through all the failing health and final illness that had ended in her death a month ago.Mrs. Ottley had been a lady's maid at Marston Court for ten years before she had married handsome James Ottley, the head chauffeur. After his death she had resumed her position in the household for a few years, because Lady Marston had always been devoted to her old maid and had taken the greatest interest in Mary, a lovely little elfin creature with great grey eyes and light golden hair, and had delighted in having her in the house.