"Oh, but do come, please. We shall be quite alone and it'll do you good."
The smile that played round Mrs. Ogden's lips was apologetic and sad; it seemed to repudiate gently the suggestion that anything, however kindly meant, could do her good, now.
"I think not," she said, pressing Mrs. Benson's hand. "But thank you all the same for wanting such a dull guest."
Mrs. Benson thought: "A tiresome woman; she's overdoing her bereavement, poor thing."
The door had scarcely closed on the departing guest when Mrs. Ogden turned to her daughter. "Is this true?" she demanded, holding out her hands.
"Is what true?"
"About Elizabeth."
"Oh, for God's sake!" exclaimed Joan gruffly, "don't let's go into all that. Elizabeth has gone away, isn't that enough? Aren't you satisfied?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Ogden, and her voice was wonderfully firm and self-possessed. "I am quite satisfied, Joan."