&ldquo;Ursula! I am glad to see you!&rdquo; 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.<br />&ldquo;Julia! This is nice!&rdquo; They kissed affectionately, then the new arrival swung round to a second woman who had followed in the wake of the first.<br />&ldquo;And Marjorie! My goodness, Marjorie,&rdquo;&mdash;they also kissed&mdash;&ldquo;when I remember the last time I saw you! I declare we haven&rsquo;t met since Bolsover. How many years ago is that?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t let&rsquo;s think. You&rsquo;re not much altered, Ursula. I should have known you easily.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Nor are you; wonderfully little.&rdquo; She turned back to the first woman. &ldquo;And how&rsquo;s the world, Julia?&rdquo;