'Oh, yes, I hope you will write to me. I shall be so glad to hear from you. I shall be lonely all that time away from home.'
'And you'll write to me?'
'Of course. And if I write to you, you won't misunderstand?'
Ralph looked up surprised.
'I mean, if I write affectionately you won't misunderstand. It will be because—-'
'Because you feel lonely?'
'Partly. But you don't misunderstand, do you?'
They watched the ducks in silence. At last Mildred said, 'That duck wanders about by herself; why doesn't she join the others?'
'Perhaps she can't find a drake.'
'Perhaps she prefers to be alone.'