“Oh, thanks, mother. You don’t forget.”
There was silence while he took off his boots. Clare sat with her hands in her lap, staring at the carpet. Once or twice her mother-in-law glanced at her anxiously.
“Won’t you play something, Clare?” said the old lady, after a little while.
“If you like,” said Clare.
Herbert resumed his cheerful note.
“Yes, let’s have a jolly evening. Perhaps I will sing a song presently.”
“Oh, do, dear!” said Mrs. Heywood.
“Gad, it’s a long time since I sang ‘John Peel’!”
Clare looked rather anxious and perturbed.
“The walls of this flat are rather thin,” she said. “The neighbors might not like it.”