"I'll see to it presently," said Alice, a little frown just settling itself on her brows.
Agnes made no further remark, though she felt ruffled, and was sure Alice would forget after all.
Then John came in. "Agnes, Hugh and I want a fire in our room. As it's the last day of the holidays, we are going to have our long-deferred turn-out."
"Very well; but, John, don't you toss everything out on the landing for me to clear up."
"Is it likely?" asked he, surprised.
Agnes did not feel as if she could look up brightly in answer, so she turned to her desk and began to search for something.
"Lost something?" asked John, bending down and looking in her face.
"I don't know," she answered, detecting a significance in his kindly tone.
He kissed her and went off, and then Hugh walked in.
"Agnes, I want to know if you could find John and me a curtain to stretch across our large room?"