“And give Iris one.” Janet made an effort. “She’s half asleep. But first, Iris, you’ll tell Daddy you were sorry for talking in a rude, silly way about Mr. Broadstairs, and promise him you’ll make up for it by behaving beautifully tomorrow.”

Iris had her eyes half shut. She opened them to twinkle at Janet.

“’Course I’m sorry, and ’course I’ll be polite. You know that, Janet.”

Janet tried to slip away before Donald, but he walked beside her down the passage. Below they heard Gladys’ step. He caught his breath and held her arm.

“You go on. I don’t want her upset by seeing us together.”

She snatched her arm away as though his touch burned it. Scornful words seared her tongue, but before she had time to say them Gladys called her. She went up the passage and hung over the banisters. She could scarcely speak there was such a lump in her throat.

“Yes?”

Gladys seemed confused.

“I just wondered where you were. Iris asleep?”

“Just about.”

Gladys’ voice was elaborately casual.

“Oh!”

Janet clung to the banisters.

“Do you know where Sheila is? I’ve got a bit of a headache. The cinema, I expect. I shall go home.”

“She’s outside somewhere. I’ll call her.”

“Don’t bother.”

“Wait and have a cup of tea,” Gladys suggested.

Janet could not resist one bitter sentence.

“No. I’ve trespassed on your and Donald’s hospitality long enough.” She walked steadily down the stairs. She even managed to smile at Gladys as she went out.

Donald, in the shadows of the passage, had made one involuntary movement to stop her. Then he steadied himself. What was the good? With Gladys about he had no chance to be alone with her, which was what he was longing for. Besides, there was something about her tonight which he could not place. She had been aloof somehow in Iris’ room, and when he touched her arm she had seemed to resent it. Of course it might only have been a quick movement and meant nothing, but it had seemed like resentment. He waited until the front door shut, and Gladys’ feet had clicked along the passage to the kitchen, then he went to his room. He leant out of the window. He could see Janet hurrying down the farm road. She stumbled and then broke into a fumbling run. “Her head must be bad,” he thought with concern. “It’s as if she couldn’t see properly.”

In the kitchen Gladys found Sheila. Sheila’s voice was full of pride.

“We’ve brought it off.”

Gladys stood in the doorway and looked at her in disgust. “I shouldn’t sound so pleased.”

“Why? She saw. I could see she did.”