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ng；〃 she laughed。
〃I wonder if you're right；〃 mused Mrs。 Phillips。 〃He does often say that he'd just as soon I didn't talk about them。〃
Joan shot a glance from over her cup。 The poor puzzled face was staring into the fire。 Joan could almost hear him saying it。
〃I'm sure I am；〃 she said。 〃Make home…coming a change to him。 As you said yourself the other evening。 It's good for him to get away from it all； now and then。〃
〃I must try；〃 agreed Mrs。 Phillips； looking up。 〃What sort of things ought I to talk to him about； do you think？〃
Joan gave an inward sigh。 Hadn't the poor lady any friends of her own。 〃Oh； almost anything；〃 she answered vaguely： 〃so long as it's cheerful and non…political。 What used you to talk about before he became a great man？〃
There came a wistful look into the worried eyes。 〃Oh； it was all so different then；〃 she said。 〃'E just liked toyou know。 We didn't seem to 'ave to talk。 'E was a rare one to tease。 I didn't know 'ow clever 'e was； then。〃
It seemed a difficult case to advise upon。 〃How long have you been married？〃 Joan asked。
〃Fifteen years；〃 she answered。 〃I was a bit older than 'im。 But I've never looked my age； they tell me。 Lord； what a boy 'e was！ Swept you off your feet； like。 'E wasn't the only one。 I'd got a way with me； I suppose。 Anyhow； the men seemed to think so。 There was always a few 'anging about。 Like flies round a 'oney…pot； Mother used to say。〃 She giggled。 〃But 'e wouldn't take No for an answer。 And I didn't want to give it 'im； neither。 I was gone on 'im； right enough。 No use saying I wasn't。〃
〃You must be glad you didn't say No；〃 suggested Joan。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃'E's got on。 I always think of that little poem； 'Lord Burleigh；'〃 she continued； 〃whenever I get worrying about myself。 Ever read it？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Joan。 〃He was a landscape painter； wasn't he？〃
〃That's the one；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃I little thought I was letting myself in for being the wife of a big pot when Bob Phillips came along in 'is miner's jacket。〃
〃You'll soon get used to it；〃 Joan told her。 〃The great thing is not to be afraid of one's fate； whatever it is； but just to do one's best。〃 It was rather like talking to a child。
〃You're the right sort to put 'eart into a body。 I'm glad I came up；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips。 〃I get a bit down in the mouth sometimes when 'e goes off into one of 'is brown studies； and I don't seem to know what 'e's thinking about。 But it don't last long。 I was always one of the light…'earted ones。〃
They discussed life on two thousand a year； the problems it would present； and Mrs。 Phillips became more cheerful。 Joan laid herself out to be friendly。 She hoped to establish an influence over Mrs。 Phillips that should be for the poor lady's good； and； as she felt instinctively； for poor Phillips's also。 It was not an unpleasing face。 Underneath the paint； it was kind and womanly。 Joan was sure he would like it better clean。 A few months' attention to diet would make a decent figure of her and improve her wind。 Joan watched her spreading the butter a quarter of an inch thick upon her toast and restrained with difficulty the impulse to take it away from her。 And her clothes！ Joan had seen guys carried through the streets on the fifth of November that were less obtrusive。
She remembered； as she was taking her leave； what she had come for： which was to invite Joan to dinner on the following Friday。
〃It's just a homely affair；〃 she explained。 She had recovered her form and was now quite the lady again。 〃Two other guests beside yourself： a Mr。 AirlieI am sure you will like him。 He's so dilletantyand Mr。 McKean。 He's the young man upstairs。 Have you met him？〃
Joan hadn't： except once on the stairs when； to avoid having to pass her； he had gone down again and out into the street。 From the doorstep she had caught sight of his disappearing coat…tails round the corner。 Yielding to impishness； she had run after him； and his expression of blank horror when； glancing over his shoulder； he found her walking abstractedly three yards behind him； had gladdened all her evening。
Joan recounted the episodeso far as the doorstep。
〃He tried to be shy with me；〃 said Mrs。 Phillips； 〃but I wouldn't let him。 I chipped him out of it。 If he's going to write plays； as I told him； he will have to get over his fear of a petticoat。〃
She offered her cheek； and Joan kissed it； somewhat gingerly。
〃You won't mind Robert not wearing evening dress；〃 she said。 〃He never will if he can help it。 I shall just slip on a semi…toilette myself。〃
Joan had difficulty in deciding on her own frock。 Her four evening dresses； as she walked round them； spread out upon the bed； all looked too imposing； for what Mrs。 Phillips had warned her would be a 〃homely affair。〃 She had one other； a greyish…fawn； with sleeves to the elbow； that she had had made expressly for public dinners and political At Homes。 But that would be going to the opposite extreme； and might seem discourteousto her hostess。 Besides； 〃mousey〃 colours didn't really suit her。 They gave her a curious sense of being affected。 In the end she decided to risk a black crepe…de…chine； square cut； with a girdle of gold embroidery。 There couldn't be anything quieter than black； and the gold embroidery was of the simplest。 She would wear it without any jewellery whatever： except just a star in her hair。 The result； as she viewed the effect in the long glass； quite satisfied her。 Perhaps the jewelled star did scintillate rather。 It had belonged to her mother。 But her hair was so full of shadows： it wanted something to relieve it。 Also she approved the curved line of her bare arms。 It was certainly very beautiful； a woman's arm。 She took her gloves in her hand and went down。
Mr。 Phillips was not yet in the room。 Mrs。 Phillips； in apple… green with an ostrich feather in her hair； greeted her effusively； and introduced her to her fellow guests。 Mr。 Airlie was a slight； elegant gentleman of uncertain age； with sandy hair and beard cut Vandyke fashion。 He asked Joan's permission to continue his cigarette。
〃You have chosen the better part；〃 he informed her； on her granting it。 〃When I'm not smoking； I'm talking。〃
Mr。 McKean shook her hand vigorously without looking at her。
〃And this is Hilda；〃 concluded Mrs。 Phillips。 〃She ought to be in bed if she hadn't a naughty Daddy who spoils her。〃
A lank； black…haired girl； with a pair of burning eyes looking out of a face that； but for the thin line of the lips； would have been absolutely colourless； rose suddenly from behind a bowl of artificial flowers。 Joan could not suppress a slight start； she had not noticed her on entering。 The girl came slowly forward； and Joan felt as if the uncanny eyes were eating her up。 She made an effort and held out her hand with a smile； and the girl's long thin fingers closed on it in a pressure that hurt。 She did not speak。
〃She only came back yesterday for the half…term；〃 explained Mrs。 Phillips。 〃There's no keeping her away from her books。 'Twas her own wish to be sent to boarding…school。 How would you like to go to Girton and be a B。A。 like Miss Allw