Unknown by Unknown

slightly more formal wear, patterned materials—yes, I think so. Although I strongly advise you to avoid frills and meaningless bows. It does not seem your style to have anything which is not simple in line. For the evening—well, we will get on with the day gowns first!”
    But it was an informal evening gown that really won Judith’s heart, although her pride, which made her treat this whole expedition in such a casual way, would not allow her to admit it. It was a crisp little white dress of broderie anglaise, and apart from the very good fit and the simple lines of it, the chief attraction was the way in which round the neck, sleeves and hem the material had been cut to the design of the embroidery.
    It had a particularly charming effect round the neck, where the cut outline of little leaves made a softly broken line and served to show up Judith’s peachy skin to delightful advantage. But Judith did not analyse her liking for the dress. She just knew that she felt happy in it—and that was a new experience for a girl who had always regarded anything but breeches and a shirt as rather silly and useless.
    They saw no more of Roger and Mary, for they had returned to Sussex, but the memory of their visit remained with Judith, and more than once she found herself thinking of the relationship between the two of them. Although it was so obviously something that nobody else could really share, it had not made Judith feel shut out in the cold. On the contrary, because it was something so obviously stable and enduring, it had given her a feeling of security and confidence. She found herself wondering how people could know that it was going to turn out like that. Or didn’t you? Was it just a gamble? Judging by some people she knew, a gamble that did not come off. And yet they must have thought that it would, otherwise they would not have gone into it. So was it just a question of luck? She remembered hearing someone say that the question about those who expected least being least disappointed was obviously made about marriage. Yet Roger and Mary were not disappointed. Quite evidently they expected a tremendous lot of marriage—and somehow they had achieved it. Well, how?
    It had never occurred to Judith to wonder very much about marriage before. It was just something vaguely looming in the future. Now, suddenly, to understand all that it meant became urgent, vital. And Judith knew that she would never be able to ask anybody’s guidance. Aunt Harriet, for instance. The thought of marriage could not have meant a tremendous lot to her, otherwise she would never have allowed any obstacles to get in the way of marrying Mr. Bellairs. She did not stop to think it might perhaps be ungenerous to dismiss Miss Harriet’s sacrifice so casually as her thoughts passed on to other women she knew. Linda? No, she decided hastily, it was not a subject that she could discuss with Linda. Besides, she knew so well what Linda would say—had said many times: “People talk about love as if it is the most important thing in the world and then do their utmost to make sure it won’t last! Don’t talk to me about love in a cottage! A man whose wife is a dowdy drudge because he cannot afford to keep a maid for her is always being reminded that he is a failure. And he doesn’t like that. So he blames his wife—and that is the end of that! No, maybe one shouldn’t marry for money, but heaven protect me from loving where it isn’t!”
    That was Linda’s solution. And, of course, the Garwins were probably not worried with money problems. But it was more than that.
    The problem was beyond her, but as soon as she got home she sought Charles out and delivered Mary’s message. Charles listened in attentive silence, and when she had finished he sighed in evident relief.
    “That is the best news I have had for a long time,” he said simply. “Thank you for bringing it!”
    He smiled, and Judith found herself smiling in response.
    “I liked them,”