"
The small, hot hand clasped Joan's convulsively.
"But he won't be able to do his work if you keep away and never come back
to him," she persisted. "Oh, I know it. It all depends upon you. He
wants you."
"And I want him, if that's any consolation to you," Joan answered with a
short laugh. It wasn't much of a confession. The child was cute enough
to have found that out for herself. "Only you see I can't have him. And
there's an end of it."
They had reached the Abbey. Joan turned and they retraced their steps
slowly.
"I shall be going away soon, for a little while," she said. The talk had
helped her to decision. "When I come back I will come and see you all.
And you must all come and see me, now and then. I expect I shall have a
flat of my own. My father may be coming to live with me. Good-bye. Do
all you can to help him."
She stooped and kissed the child, straining her to her almost fiercely.
But the child's lips were cold. She did not look back.
Miss Greyson was sympathetic towards her desire for a longish holiday and
wonderfully helpful; and Mrs.
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