And may the world go well with thee, well with thee."
chanted the chorus.
"Chorus again," called Connie. "I'm bandmaster to-night."
"Fare thee well for I must leave thee,
Do not let the parting grieve thee . . ."
As the refrain died down to the reverberations of the gong, Muriel heard Lady Grainger say:
"If only more girls were brought up like yours, with such a healthy, homely influence, an atmosphere, I'm sure that you'll understand me, dear Mrs. Hammond. It does help the boys so."
Then her mother answered in that soft hurrying voice that was so much her own:
"It's very kind of you to say so. I don't know, I'm sure. Of course I've always tried to—to give them a high ideal of—of home life and—and so on."
She faltered, and Muriel, looking over her shoulder, saw her mouth set to a despairing smile, and her tongue pass over her dry lips.