"But, dear—oh, you don't mean it?"
"Yes, I do, mother. I wanted to celebrate my return, so I got the three seats. I've booked the table, and there we are."
Her face flushed with pleasure.
"Oh, but you shouldn't have, really you shouldn't, and you don't want me."
"Of course we do, mother, and anyhow we could hardly go alone."
"And have you told April?"
"No, I'm just off to tell her."
He bent down, kissed her, then straightened himself and ran out of the room. She heard his footsteps clatter on the stairs, then move about in the bedroom above her, and then once more clatter on the stairs. She sighed, her eyes dimming a little, but glad, inexpressibly glad, that he should still need her in his happiness.
Roland found April alone.