Faith stood for some seconds staring at the closed door. She felt as if someone had struck her across the face.
It was the first time she had ever definitely asked a favour of him, and he had refused!
Peg, coming into the hall, noticed her pallor.
"What's the matter, little 'un?" she asked in concern, but Faith would not answer. She went upstairs to her room, and after a moment Peg followed.
"What's up?" she asked again. "Anything I can do?"
There was a momentary silence, then Faith said, in a queer, cold little voice:
"Yes. Come in; I want to speak to you."
Peg obeyed. There was an amused smile hovering round the corners of her mouth. "I'm all attention," she said. "Fire away."
Faith's hands were trembling and she clasped them together to hide the humiliating fact.