CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
1
IN the following February Milly was sent home They wrote from Alexandra House to say that for the present, at all events, she was too ill to continue her studies. She had had a touch of pneumonia shortly after her return, with the result that her lungs were weak. The matron wrote what was meant to be a kind and tactful letter. It was full of veiled sentences; the sort of letter that distracted Joan by reason of its merciful vagueness. The letter said that Milly was not strong, that she was losing weight and was apt to run a little temperature night and morning; according to the doctor, her lungs required care and she must be given time to recover, and plenty of open air.
Joan looked across at Mrs. Ogden as she finished reading.
"It's tubercle," she said briefly.
Her voice sounded calm and cold. "I might be saying 'It's Monday to-day,'" she thought. She felt stupid with pity for Milly and for herself.
Mrs. Ogden tightened her lips; she assumed her stubborn expression.
"What nonsense, Joan! We've never had such a thing in our family."
"But, good heavens, Mother!—your father and your brother died of galloping consumption."
"Nothing of the kind. Henry died of bronchial pneumonia; you don't know what you're talking about, my dear."
Joan thought. "She's going to refuse to face it, she's going to play ostrich; what on earth am I to do!" Aloud she said: "Well, I'd better go up and fetch her; we can't let her travel alone."