‘They made a trouble at first about waiting on us,’ Mutimer pursued. ‘But I didn’t see how we could get our own meals very well. You can’t cook, can you?’ He smiled, and seemed half ashamed to ask the question. ‘Oh yes; I can cook ordinary things,’ Adela said. ‘But--we haven’t a kitchen, have we?’ ‘Well, no. If we did anything of that kind, it would have to be on this fire. She charges us four shillings a week more for cooking the dinner.’ He added this information in a tone of assumed carelessness. ‘I think we might save that,’ Adela said. ‘If I had the necessary things--I should like to try, if you will let me.’ ‘Just as you please. I don’t suppose the stuff they send us up will ever be very eatable. But it’s too bad to ask you to do work of that kind.’ ‘Oh, I shan’t mind it in the least! It will be far better, better in every way.’ Mutimer brightened up. ‘In that case we’ll only get them to do the housemaid work. You can explain that to the woman; her name is Mrs. Gulliman.’ He paused. ‘Think you can make yourself at home, here?’ ‘Yes, certainly.’ ‘That’s all right. I shall go out now for an hour or so. You can unpack your boxes and get things in order a bit.’ Adela had her interview with Mrs. Gulliman in the course of the evening, and fresh arrangements were made, not perhaps to the landlady’s satisfaction, though she made a show of absorbing interest and vast approval. She was ready to lend her pots and pans till Adela should have made purchase of those articles. Adela had the satisfaction of saving four shillings a week. Two days later Mutimer sought eagerly in the ‘Fiery Gross’ for a report of the proceedings at New Wanley. Only half a column was given to the subject, the speeches being summarised. He had fully expected that the week’s ‘leader’ would be concerned with his affairs, but there was no mention of him.