Joan waited till she heard the woman's heavy tread descending the stairs,
before she expressed her opinion.
"I think she only means to be cheerful," explained Mrs. Phillips. "She's
quite a good sort, when you know her." The subject seemed in some way to
trouble her, and Joan dropped it.
They watched the loading of a steamer while Joan drank her tea.
"He will come this afternoon, I fancy," said Mrs. Phillips. "I seem to
feel it. He will be able to see you home."
Joan started. She had been thinking about Phillips, wondering what she
should say to him when they met.
"What does he think," she asked, "about your illness?"
"Oh, it worries him, of course, poor dear," Mrs. Phillips answered. "You
see, I've always been such a go-ahead, as a rule. But I think he's
getting more hopeful. As I tell him, I'll be all right by the autumn. It
was that spell of hot weather that knocked me over."
Joan was still looking out of the window. She didn't quite know what to
say. The woman's altered appearance had shocked her. Suddenly she felt
a touch upon her hand.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308