CHAPTER ONE<br > KAREN STACRY slid out of the driving seat of her small<br >black saloon and sfipped her sheepskin overcoat about her<br >shoulders before locking the car door. Shivering sfightly<br >in the frosty March air， she crossed the pavement and<br >opened the door of the Georgian-styled cottage which her<br >mother owned in this quiet mews.<br > Inside all was warmth and light and Karen shrugged<br >appreciatively in the pleasant atmosphere~ Liza， her<br >mother s housekeeper， greeted her warmly， taking her<br >coat and hanging it in the hall dose~:. Liza had been with<br >her moflmr since Karen wax a child， and yet to Karen， she<br >never seemed to look any older~<br > With a smile now， Karen asked: ~Where is my mother，<br >Liza? <br > In the sitting-room， Miss Karen，~ replied Lien， her eyes<br >showing their dislike of Karen ~ casual attire. Tight-<br >fitting stretch ~lacks and a chunky sweater were anath-<br >ema to Liza~ Must you wear those disgusting trouser~<br >love ? she exclaimed~ They- re hardly suitable for a young<br >lady. <br > Liza was terribly old-fashioned. She had never married<br >herself and had always looked on the Stacey children as<br >her owrL And with the familiarity of years she invariably<br >spoke her mind. It amused Karen now and she<br >answered:<br > Oh， Liza darling， I ve just left my drawing-board. You<br >can t possibly expect me to dress up just to come round<br >here. Not when I ve got to go back and go on working.<br >Besides， slacks are very warm and very fashionable at the<br >moment， <br > Liza shrugged， grhnacing， and w~th a chuckle Karen<br >left her to enter the sitting-roomo This was the room<br >