Being here, she reflected placidly, was much cheaper than being
in an hotel and, if she could keep off the others, immeasurably more
agreeable. She was paying for her rooms--extremely pleasant rooms, now
that she was arranged in them--L3 a week, which came to about eight
shillings a day, battlements, watch-tower and all. Where else abroad
could she live as well for so little, and have as many baths as she
like, for eight shillings a day? Of course she did not yet know what
her food would cost, but she would insist on carefulness over that,
though she would also insist on its being carefulness combined with
excellence. The two were perfectly compatible if the caterer took
pains. The servants' wages, she had ascertained, were negligible,
owing to the advantageous exchange, so that there was only the food to
cause her anxiety. If she saw signs of extravagance she would propose
that they each hand over a reasonable sum every week to Lady Caroline
which should cover the bills, any of it that was not used to be
returned, and if it were exceeded the loss to be borne by the caterer.
Mrs. Fisher was well off and had the desire for comforts proper
to her age, but she disliked expenses. So well off was she that, had
she so chosen, she could have lived in an opulent part of London and
driven from it and to it in a Rolls-Royce.
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