Gillian bestowed on her a quick mobile grin. “Mind you keep it, then. Did you say Antonia had gone round to Zoe?”
Winnie nodded, her mouth full of salad.
“Right. ’Night, Winnie.—Lord, I’d nearly forgotten that key again. Why didn’t you remind me? Think of the national calamity if I’d called you up out of bed.”
Winifred assented, but reflected no doubt that there was always the lodger on the third floor.... “You might give me the blanc-mange, Jill, as you’re up.”
III
“I say, is my sister here?”
Zoe opened her eyes very wide: “Are you Seul au Monde?” she whispered cautiously, bending from the threshold towards Richard till her rumple of primrose curls fell forward over the shoulders of her frilly white dressing-jacket.
He stepped back a pace.
“Because if you are”—with a gurgle of laughter—“then I’m Petite Sœur—but you’re not half as French as I thought you, and why aren’t you in your nice uniform? Never mind—are you hungry? Did you cross to-day? Do you think you’re going to like me as much as you supposed?”