"Do you have to go, dear, really?" Hilda could not keep every atom of relief out of her voice, for neither was she sure of Roger. Perhaps James would let the dinner pass, but not if Roger annoyed him any more.
"I think so. It was a lovely dinner. I'd like to help you with the dishes, but I suppose you'll leave them till morning."
Hilda laughed. "I'm not going to do them at all. Mrs. Welles' Jap schoolboy's coming at half past eight for an hour."
"Good for you!"
"It's papa's present," Hilda said proudly. "Really, Anne, papa's changing quite a bit."
Anne put her arms about her mother. "You dear, patient thing. I wish I were more like you."
"Go on, you flatterer. There's Roger coming to look you up."
"They're going to play bridge for a while. Do you want to play, dear?" he asked.
"No. We'll just slip out the back way. They won't notice."
"Why, Anne, that's awfully rude. Of course they'll notice."