"Is it, dear?"
"Yes, shall we go to bed?"
"You go, I'll come presently."
"Well, don't stay up too late; it makes me nervous, I can't sleep
properly till I know you're in bed."
"I shan't wake you coming upstairs."
"I never go to sleep at all until I hear your door close. Have you
written about those servants?"
"Yes, I'm going out now to post the letters."
"Then I'll wait up until you get back, darling."
"No, please not, Mother; I have a key."
"But it makes me nervous when I know you're out. Run along, dear; I
shall wait for you."
"Very well," said Joan, "I shan't be long."
2
Mrs. Benson called and talked about Richard, and she looked at Joan as
she spoke. She would have liked her Richard to have this girl, if, as
she had begun to suspect, he had set his heart on her.
"You and Richard have so much in common, Joan; he's always writing to me
about you."
Mrs. Ogden said nothing.
"When are you going to Cambridge?" Mrs. Benson continued hurriedly,
bridging an awkward pause.
Joan looked at her mother, but she was still silent.
"Aren't you going?" Mrs. Benson persisted.