Hilda was home for the holidays; and
her piercing eyes took in the situation at a flash. She appeared to have
returned with a new-born and exacting affection for her mother, that
astonished almost as much as it delighted the poor lady. Feeling sudden
desire for a walk or a bus ride, or to be taken to an entertainment, no
one was of any use to Hilda but her mother. Daddy had his silly politics
to think and talk about. He must worry them out alone; or with the
assistance of Miss Allway. That was what she was there for. Mrs.
Phillips, torn between her sense of duty and fear of losing this new
happiness, would yield to the child's coaxing. Often they would be left
alone to discuss the nation's needs uninterrupted. Conscientiously they
would apply themselves to the task. Always to find that, sooner or
later, they were looking at one another, in silence.
One day Phillips burst into a curious laugh. They had been discussing
the problem of the smallholder. Joan had put a question to him, and with
a slight start he had asked her to repeat it. But it seemed she had
forgotten it.
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