Joan had the feeling that it was listening.
Suddenly she heard a light step in the passage, and the room door opened.
A girl entered. She was wearing a large black hat and a black boa round
her neck. Between them her face shone unnaturally white. She carried a
small cloth bag. She started, on seeing Joan, and seemed about to
retreat.
"Oh, please don't go," cried Joan. "Mrs. Stopperton has just gone round
to the doctor's. She won't be long. I'm a friend of hers."
The girl took stock of her and, apparently reassured, closed the door
behind her.
"What's he like to-night?" she asked, with a jerk of her head in the
direction of the next room. She placed her bag carefully upon the sofa,
and examined the new shawl as she did so.
"Well, I gather he's a little fretful," answered Joan with a smile.
"That's a bad sign," said the girl. "Means he's feeling better." She
seated herself on the sofa and fingered the shawl. "Did you give it
her?" she asked.
"Yes," admitted Joan. "I rather fancied her in it."
"She'll only pawn it," said the girl, "to buy him grapes and port wine.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222