The door opened and Miss Jackson came in. She held out her hand with an exaggeratedly bright smile. "Miss Ogden?"
Joan thought: "She's terribly nervous of what she has to tell me."
"Do sit down, Miss Ogden, please. I hope you had a good journey?"
"Yes, thank you."
The matron looked at her watch. "Your train must have been unusually punctual; I always think the trains are so very bad on that line. However, you've been fortunate."
"Yes, we were only five minutes late."
"You don't find it stuffy in here, do you? I cannot persuade the maids to leave the window open."
"No, I don't feel hot—I think you wanted to speak to me about Milly."
"Milly; oh, yes—I thought—the doctor wanted me to tell you——"
"That my sister is in consumption? I was afraid it was so, from your letter."