"Nearly always," said Gilbert.
"Uncle Peter made a mistake anyhow," Ninian said.
6
He went to his room, pleading that he was tired, to write his letter to Sheila before dinner. As he was going upstairs, Mary began to descend, and he saw that her look was brighter.
"Go back," she called to him, waving her hand as if to thrust him down the stairs again. "It's unlucky to pass people on the stairs. Don't you know that?"
He descended again as she bade him, laughing as he did so, and waited until she had come down.
"Mother's much better now," she said when she had reached his side. "She's coming down to dinner."
"I'm awfully glad," he replied. He hesitated for a second or two, standing with one foot on the last step of the stairs. "I say, Mary," he said.
"Yes, Quinny!" she answered, turning to him.
So she had not forgotten that she had called him by his nick-name.