"You frighten me, Elizabeth; for goodness' sake explain yourself."
"I don't want to frighten you, but I'm beginning to be frightened myself about Joan; she's been very queer for weeks, she looks terribly ill, and I think something is preying on her mind."
"Preying on her mind?"
"I think so—she seems unnatural—she isn't like Joan, somehow."
"But, I haven't noticed all this!" Mrs. Ogden's voice was cold. "Are you sure that you're not over-anxious, Elizabeth?"
"I'm sure I'm right. If you haven't noticed that Joan's ill, it must be because you have been so worried about Colonel Ogden."
"Really, Elizabeth, I cannot think it possible that I, the child's mother, should not have noticed what you say, were it true."
"Still, you haven't noticed it," said Elizabeth stubbornly.
"No, I have not noticed it, but I'm glad to have an opportunity of telling you what I have noticed; and that is that you systematically encourage the child to overwork."
Elizabeth stiffened. "She does overwork, though I have begged her not to, but I don't think it's that, entirely."