"Charming," Gerty sighed effectively; then her eyes went slowly round the room. "This room is perfect. And such a view. You stand so high that you can look right over the city without knowing that it's there. And there's the Sharrow beyond. Isn't that Corfield Weir on the right?" Rather proudly Josiah said that it was Corfield Weir. "And that great bank of trees going up into the sky must be Dibley Chase." "Dibley right enough," vouched Josiah. "Have you had a look from the tower?" "Yes, I have. Wonderful. Maria says on a clear day you can see Cliveden Castle." "Aye. And a sight farther than that. You can see three counties up there. To my mind, Gert, this house stands on the plumb bit of The Rise." Gertrude fully agreed. "So it ought if it comes to that. I had to pay seven and sixpence a yard for the land, before I could put a brick on it." Gertrude was impressed. "What do you think o' that oak paneling in the dining-room?" She thought it was charming. "Has Maria shown you the greenus--I should say conservatory--an' the rockery--an' the motor garidge? We haven't got the motor yet, but it's coming next week." Gertrude had seen these things. It only remained for her to enter upon a diplomatic rapture at the recital of their merits. "No strawberries, thank you," Josiah's voice was rather sharp as the depressed lady tactlessly offered these delicacies at a moment when her lord was fully engaged in describing the unparalleled difficulties he had had to surmount in order to get the water fountain beyond the tennis lawn to work properly. "Fact o' the matter is, our Water Board wants wackenin' up." "Well, you are the man to do that, Josiah. You are an alderman now." "I am." The slight note of inflation was unconscious. "And old Scrimshire an' that pettifoggin' crew are goin' to have a word in season from Alderman Munt." "Mustn't get yourself disliked though." Josiah smiled sourly. "Gel," he said, "a man worth his salt is never afraid o' being unpopular. Right is right an' wrong is no man's right. Our Water Board's got to be run on new lines. It's a disgrace to the city." Miss Preston was far too wise to offer an opinion upon that matter. She knew, none better, the limits imposed by affairs upon the sex to which she belonged. But she was very shrewd and perceptive and underneath the subtle flatteries she dealt out habitually to this brother-in-law of hers was a genuine respect for great abilities and his terrific force of character.