There were two parcels and two letters on Joan's plate. She opened the parcels first; one contained a writing-case, from her mother, the other a book, from Milly. Her letters were from Richard and Elizabeth. She recognized Elizabeth's writing on the unusually large envelope, and something prompted her to open Richard's letter first.
He wrote:
"This is to congratulate you on coming of age, that is if there be cause for congratulation, which, my dear, rests entirely with you. I hope, I believe, that now at last you have made up your mind to strike out for yourself; this is your moment, and I entreat you to seize it."
The letter ended:
"Joan, for the fourth time, please marry me!"
Joan laughed quietly as she folded this epistle and opened the long envelope addressed in Elizabeth's hand. It contained no letter of any kind, only a legal document; the lease of the flat in Bloomsbury.
2
She found Elizabeth in Ralph's study, writing letters. As she came in Elizabeth got up and took both her hands.
"My dear," she said, and kissed her.
Joan sat down. "So you've done it!" was all she found to say.