“Tell me about that,” she demanded.
“Look here!” said her sister. “You are not going to get Jack into a labour controversy this afternoon. But I would just like to ask you, Pat, how keen you'd be on organising and conducting a Literary and Debating Society after you had put in not five and a half hours' lessons, but eight or nine hours'! It would take some doing, eh? But let's cut out the labour trouble. It is nearly time for his sleep, isn't it?”
“Is it, Captain Jack? If so, we won't keep you a minute,” said Patricia anxiously. “No, mother! you must not keep him. He must be on tip-toe to-night.”
Captain Jack rose. “Patricia would make an ideal trainer,” he said. “I fear I must really go. I am awfully glad to have come in and seen you all. Somehow I feel a whole lot better.”
“And so do we, Jack,” said the old lady in a wistful voice. “Won't you come again soon?”
Maitland hesitated a moment, glancing at Adrien.
“Oh, do!” said the girl, with a little colour coming into her face. “It has been a little like old times to see you this way.”
“Yes, hasn't it?” said Stillwell. “Awfully jolly.”
Maitland stiffened and turned again to the old lady whose eyes were turned on him with sad entreaty.
“Yes, I shall come to see you,” said Maitland, bowing over her hand in farewell.