The tone of her voice was so quivering, and unlike the happy voice of Barbara, that Lady Valleys involuntarily caught hold of her hand and squeezed it hard.
“My dear sweet,” she said, “don't let's talk of such gloomy things.”
“I mean it. Nothing shall stop me.”
But Lady Valleys' face had suddenly become rather grim.
“So we think, child; it's not so simple.”
“It can't be worse, anyway,” muttered Barbara, “than being buried alive as that wretched woman is.”
For answer Lady Valleys only murmured:
“The doctor promised that ambulance carriage at four o'clock. What am I going to say?”
“She'll understand when you look at her. She's that sort.”
The door was opened to them by Mrs. Noel herself.