"Is that the mail?" repeated Mrs. Coombe, coming up the walk.
"No, there is no mail," said Esther, "No one has been to the post office. Perhaps Jane had better run down now."
"But you had a letter," suspiciously. "I'm sure I saw it. Where is it?"
"Don't be absurd, mother. I have no letter. Nor would I think it necessary to show it to you if I had. I am not a child."
"You are a child. And let me tell you, a clandestine correspondence is something which I shall not tolerate. Let me see the letter."
Esther was feeling too happy to be cross. Besides it was rather funny to be accused of clandestine correspondence.
"I think I'll go and help Jane with the pup," she said cheerfully. "Too bad you didn't come in sooner, mother. Dr. Callandar was here."
"Then you do refuse to show me the letter?"
"If I had one I should certainly refuse to show it. Why do you let yourself get so excited, mother? You never used to act like this. It must be nerves. Every one notices how changed you are." She paused, arrested by the frightened look which replaced the futile anger on her step-mother's face.
"I'm not different. Who says I am different? It is you who are trying
to make a fuss. I'm sure I do not care about your letter. Why should I?
Your father always seemed to think you needed no advice from any one.
Only don't imagine that I am blind. I saw you with a letter."