They found Mrs. Frampton in the hall, full of shy and beaming kindness. Daphne took her hand and looked down on her cordially.
'I must be flying. I'll look in to-morrow, if I may.... Good-bye, and thank you so much for being good to the child.'
The narrow Kate and the immoral Evie appeared in the background, and Daphne had to shake hands with them after all before escaping into the taxi.
4
Violette watched her drive away up Spring Hill.
Evie thought how handsome she was, and how well she wore her clothes.
Kate was not quite certain she wasn't a touch fast.
Alix thought, 'How jolly it must be to be like mother, so certain and so strong.'
Mrs. Frampton thought, 'She seems so nice and clever, but a little alarming, perhaps,' and said to Alix, 'Your mother seems wonderfully well and busy. I expect she's always quite full of plans and occupations and interests, isn't she?'
'Yes,' said Alix.