"What
good does it do to anyone? Mother, if ever, when I am married, I want to
get free, I will!"
The tone of her voice was so quivering, and unlike the happy voice of
Barbara, that Lady Valleys involuntarily caught hold of her hand and
squeezed it hard.
"My dear sweet," she said, "don't let's talk of such gloomy things."
"I mean it. Nothing shall stop me."
But Lady Valleys' face had suddenly become rather grim.
"So we think, child; it's not so simple."
"It can't be worse, anyway," muttered Barbara, "than being buried alive
as that wretched woman is."
For answer Lady Valleys only murmured:
"The doctor promised that ambulance carriage at four o'clock. What am I
going to say?"
"She'll understand when you look at her. She's that sort."
The door was opened to them by Mrs. Noel herself.
It was the first time Lady Valleys had seen her in a house, and
there was real curiosity mixed with the assurance which masked her
nervousness. A pretty creature, even lovely! But the quite genuine
sympathy in her words: "I am truly grateful. You must be quite worn
out," did not prevent her adding hastily: "The doctor says he must be
got home out of these hot rooms. We'll wait here while you tell him."
And then she saw that it was true; this woman was the sort who
understood.
Left in the dark passage, she peered round at Barbara.
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