“I dare say!” Hannah answered, with curtness. “She always did follow the spoiling dodge with Polly.”
“It is not a question of spoiling now; but she does need a kind word or two,” said Jervis.
Hannah walked away, offering no further response.
* * * * * * *
About that same hour Joan stood in the Hall drawing-room—stood under the central chandelier, with clasped hands and bent head. Nobody else was present. Joan’s attitude seemed to be one of listening only. Her fixed eyes evidently saw nothing. She had thrown off her hat and furs on her first arrival, and they lay in a little heap on one of the chairs. A step outside made her start forward, and Leo came in.
“Well, Joan?” he said cheerfully.
“Mother and Nessie are with father still,” Joan said in a strained voice. “I thought I had better leave them alone, just for a few minutes.”
“Did Aunt Dulcibel wish that?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t say so—but I thought perhaps she might.”
“How did the first meeting go off? You were there then.”