The first low murmur of the gong began in a slow crescendo.
Innes heard it and struggled to her feet. "If you'll forgive me," she said, "I'll go and dash some cold water on myself. That will stop it."
Lucy thought it remarkable that a girl so racked with sobs that she could hardly speak should prescribe for herself with such detachment; as if she were another person from this hysterical individual who had taken possession of her and was making such an exhibition of herself.
"Yes, do," Lucy said.
Innes paused with her hand on the door-knob.
"Some day I'll be able to thank you properly," she said, and disappeared.
Lucy dropped the little silver rosette into her pocket and went down to breakfast.
22
It was a horrible weekend.
The rain poured down. Henrietta went about looking as though she had had a major operation that had not proved a success. Madame was at her worst and not at all helpful, either actually or verbally. Froken was furious that such a thing should have happened in «her» gymnasium. Wragg was an ever-present Cassandra scattering depressing truisms. Lux was quiet and tired.