"I can; and I should certainly like to, if I may. Osborn would never forgive me for leaving you at this time of night."
She thought how kind he was, and how restful. It was attractive to be looked after again, deferred to and considered. Rokeby drove her the whole way out in a taxicab and found the sincerity of her thanks, as they parted, very touching. As for Marie, not for years had she climbed all those cold stairs so buoyantly; and after her long day, as she put her latchkey in the lock, she suddenly sensed the pleasure of coming home. There was nothing to do, in a rush, when she got in; no preparations to make, or food to cook; no setting forward of work for to-morrow, for the charwoman was coming early.
A man was a man certainly, and a quality to miss, but without him there was a great still peace in the flat.
Grannie Amber, blinking drowsily, came out of the dining-room to meet her daughter.
She noted the bright eyes and cheeks, and her heart beat joyfully.
"Had a nice time, duck?"
"Lovely, mother. I lunched by myself at the Royal Red, and watched the people. Then I had my fingers manicured, and went to tell Mr. Rokeby about Osborn, and had such a nice tea in his office; he's got such a pretty office. Then he took me to Julia's flat, and we three had dinner together. Oh! we were jolly. Mr. Rokeby cooked; how we laughed! Julia made him wear one of her aprons, and I made him the sweetest cook-cap you ever saw. I don't know when I've enjoyed myself so much."
"He's a nice man," said Grannie approvingly; "I wonder if he's thinking of marrying Miss Winter?"
"Mother, your head always runs on somebody marrying somebody else."
"Well, duck, I'm an old woman, and in my long life I've noticed that they always do."