"Very well," said Joan, "I shan't be long."
2
Mrs. Benson called and talked about Richard, and she looked at Joan as she spoke. She would have liked her Richard to have this girl, if, as she had begun to suspect, he had set his heart on her.
"You and Richard have so much in common, Joan; he's always writing to me about you."
Mrs. Ogden said nothing.
"When are you going to Cambridge?" Mrs. Benson continued hurriedly, bridging an awkward pause.
Joan looked at her mother, but she was still silent.
"Aren't you going?" Mrs. Benson persisted.
Joan hesitated. "Well, you see, it's rather difficult just now——"
"She doesn't want to leave me," said Mrs. Ogden with a little smile. "She thinks I'm such a helpless creature!"