"How she would hate us if she heard us," said Jane.
"There ought to be somebody to take care of 'im," said Rose, moved to compassion. "'E might go off in a fit any day. She can't be easy when 'e's left."
"He must be left," said Tanqueray with ferocity.
"Here she is," said Jane.
There she was; and there, too, was her family. For, at the sight of Laura running down-stairs with Prothero after her, Mr. Gunning broke loose from Addy's arm and followed her, perilously followed her. Addy was only just in time to draw him back from the hall door as Prothero closed it.
And then little Laura, outside, heard a cry as of a thing trapped, and betrayed, and utterly abandoned.
"I can't go," she cried. "He thinks I'm leaving him—that I'm never coming back. He always thinks it."
"You know," said Nina, "he never thinks anything for more than five minutes."
"I know—but——"
Nina caught her by the shoulder. "You stupid Kiddy, you must forget him when he isn't there."