“Why, Grace! I had no idea——”
She caught the girl in her arms, then held her away, looked into her eyes and kissed her.
“I’m so sorry, dear! I know what it means to you. It’s a terrible disappointment to all of us.”
“Oh, I understand everything, mother.”
“But I didn’t expect you so soon. I don’t see how you managed it. I thought you’d probably wait till Saturday.”
“Oh, I couldn’t have done that, mother.”
“How’s Roy? He didn’t write at all last week.”
“He’s flourishing and sent his love to everybody. He promises to work harder than ever now.”
“I’m sure he will. I know he was sorry to see you leave; he’d know what a wrench it would be for you.”
They had been talking in the hall, with Grace’s suitcase and tennis racket lying on the floor where she had dropped them. She pushed them out of the way at the foot of the old-fashioned stair that rose steeply just inside the door.