But I should be back in an hour or so .sx " " Oh , at the hospital , I suppose !sx " Lorraine did not wait for her mother to confirm or deny this , but turned back to Noreen .sx With a smile and a sigh- for it was obvious that the twins were too taken up with their own affairs to enquire or sympathize- she went out .sx " Mr. Delorme was thrilled !sx " Joanna went on breathlessly .sx " He's suggested we should go to town as soon as it can be arranged , and , when we're settled , he's going to put us on at the Lys d'Or , which is a very exclusive night club .sx " Noreen looked doubtful .sx " But is that what you wanted ?sx I thought you hoped to get on the stage or television ?sx A night club sounds rather a come-down .sx I don't want to sound discouraging , but aren't some of them pretty low dives ?sx " Lorraine , who had been lounging on the cushioned window-seat , straightened up and leant forward eagerly .sx " Don't be so " ve and stupid , Norrie !sx There are night clubs and night clubs , as you'd know , if you weren't such an ignoramus !sx This is one of the top places , frightfully swell .sx We'll get a wonderful salary if we deliver the goods , and get to know a lot of useful people .sx " " Oliver knows Mr. Delorme quite well , " Joanna put in , not noticing how Noreen's eyebrows went up at her unthinking use of his first name .sx " And if he backs anybody , that's surely good enough !sx " There was such warmth of partisanship in her tone that Noreen was astonished .sx She said impulsively :sx " But you hardly know him , Jo !sx Mr. Randall , I mean .sx How can you be so sure that he's on the level ?sx " Joanna stubbed out her cigarette with unnecessary fierceness .sx Her lovely eyes were defiant above cheeks whose colour had deepened at Noreen's remark .sx " There are some people you don't have to know for years before you can trust them .sx And Oliver Randall's one of them .sx He's absolutely wonderful !sx He's promised to find us a flat- " Over Joanna's coppery head , Lorraine's eyes met Noreen's enquiring gaze .sx She laughed mischievously , and without envy .sx " As you may have gathered , Norrie , Jo's fallen for the man , hook , line and sinker !sx And I'd say he'd be equally enthusiastic , if it wasn't for his wife's restraining influence .sx I've warned Jo already that she must walk warily when that lady's around .sx " Joanna sprang suddenly to her feet .sx " Don't talk rubbish , Lorraine !sx I do like Oliver , and he's been perfectly sweet to us both- you must admit that !sx Not only to me , as you seem to imply .sx There's no need to put ridiculous ideas into Norrie's head .sx By the way !sx " She turned to Noreen .sx " I suppose you realize that we want you to come with us when we go back to town ?sx We explained to Mr. Delorme that we must have you as our accompanist .sx " " Me ?sx " Noreen was taken aback .sx Somehow , she had quite overlooked this possibility , and though , at one time , she had been hurt by her sisters' apparent disregard of her , she was now aware that the prospect of leaving Dorlcombe was oddly unwelcome .sx " Mummy won't like it if we all go off and leave her .sx " Joanna shrugged impatiently .sx " If you prefer to stick here in this dreary place- and you know just how dull and forsaken it is after the season's over- that's your look-out .sx But I must say I think it's rather mean of you , especially after we insisted to Mr. Delorme that we must have you , as well .sx Let me talk to Mummy !sx I don't suppose she'll raise any objection .sx " Noreen said no more .sx She felt that the twins would not understand if she attempted to make them see her point of view .sx Their trip to town , she thought , seemed to have changed them in some inexplicable way .sx She knew that they had always been ambitious , eager to try their wings in a wider sphere , but , now the chance had come , they seemed to be thinking of nothing and no one save themselves .sx Yet their mother , as Noreen knew , had done everything in her power to make them happy .sx Surely she would feel very lost and lonely if all her children deserted her ?sx When Mrs. Sangster returned , they could hear her talking to someone as she came up the stairs .sx Joanna and Lorraine looked at each other in bewilderment , but Noreen , recognizing Stephen's quiet , pleasant voice , went out to meet them .sx She guessed , even before she saw the eager look on his face , that he had come with the express purpose of seeing Joanna , and her heart sank at the thought of his probable reception .sx " Mr. Redfern very kindly brought me home in his car , " Mrs. Sangster explained as they came into the room .sx Lorraine greeted him pleasantly enough , but Joanna's greeting was barely polite .sx After a few moments of general conversation , Mrs. Sangster said :sx " Well , I'm going to see about some supper .sx You'll stay and have some with us , won't you , Mr. Redfern ?sx Lorraine dear , do come down with me and tell me all your news .sx I'm longing to hear how you got on in town .sx And , Noreen , did you remember to feed the chickens ?sx " The two girls followed their mother downstairs , Noreen carefully shutting the door behind them , and deliberately ignoring Joanna's murmur of protest .sx After they had gone , there was an awkward little silence , then Stephen said gently :sx " I hope everything went as well as you expected , Jo ?sx " " Oh yes !sx Better , really .sx We shall be going to London at the end of this month .sx " She jumped up and began straightening some magazines on the table .sx " We've been offered a very good engagement , you see .sx " He rose and came over , standing just behind her .sx A tiny shiver went down Joanna's spine , but he did not touch her .sx " Well , that's grand !sx Just what you hoped for , isn't it ?sx As a matter of fact , I've got some news for you , too .sx Though I'm afraid it won't seem very exciting to you- now .sx " She swung round to face him , arms folded , clear eyes wide .sx She had changed from the suit she had worn for the journey , and was now wearing her favourite attire- a thin , woollen jersey and slacks .sx His hands clenched involuntarily as he looked at her- so lovely with that glow of colour in her cheeks , her hair a bright halo about her upthrown head .sx " Why not , Steve ?sx Always glad to hear of a friend's good fortune !sx " Her tone was deliberately casual and gay , and nothing in her manner betrayed the way in which her heart was racing .sx " Have you gone and got yourself engaged or something ?sx " He faced her steadily , no answering gaiety in his eyes .sx " You can't really think that , Jo .sx When you know there's only one girl I'd ever want to be engaged to .sx No , I've come into some money- not a vast fortune , by any means , but enough to make me feel , at least , that I have something to offer you .sx " " But I- " Joanna began .sx She stepped quickly aside , and would have moved away from him , but he laid a restraining hand on her arm .sx Gentle though it was , there was the suggestion of power behind that touch , and involuntarily she stood still .sx " I've never told you in so many words , " he went on , his voice as quiet and controlled as ever , " but you must have guessed that I care for you- very deeply .sx I've loved you ever since you were a schoolgirl , Jo , but I didn't think I stood a chance compared with all your other admirers .sx You wanted gaiety and fun ; I was hard up and had to put my studies first .sx My parents sacrificed a lot to pay for my training , and it wouldn't have been right to let them down .sx But now I'm really established , and with this unexpected legacy coming along- " With an impatient movement , she pulled free from him and turned quickly away towards the window , speaking with her back to him .sx " Don't go on , Steve !sx Oh , don't think I don't like you , and I suppose I should say thank you for- for wanting to marry me .sx But it's quite impossible- it always will be impossible !sx Don't you understand , the sort of life you're offering me- just living in Quaystone and keeping house and all that- it's so deadly dull !sx I want something different- all the things that I've now got the chance of enjoying .sx Even if I loved you , I'm afraid I wouldn't say yes !sx " There was silence .sx Wondering , expecting a protest , she half turned and looked at him .sx He was standing motionless , a queer suggestion of defeat , of hopelessness , about the powerful shoulders , the bent head where the fair hair was so smoothly brushed , save for the unruly drake's-tail on the crown .sx Joanna's eyes suddenly softened , and a reluctant feeling of compassion swept over her .sx But , before she could speak , he had recovered his normal self-control .sx " If you loved me , as you say,- well , it might not seem so 'deadly dull .sx ' But you don't , and that's that !sx " He smiled , and held out his hand .sx " Let's part good friends , Jo dear .sx If you're going to get your heart's desire , that's all that really matters to me .sx Will you apologize to your mother for me , and tell her I'm sorry I can't stay to supper , after all ?sx " As the outer door shut behind him , Noreen put her head round the kitchen door and said doubtfully :sx " Did I hear somebody ?sx " " Steve's gone .sx He couldn't stay , after all , " Joanna said .sx She went quickly along the landing to her room and shut the door behind her .sx There she sat down on the edge of the bed , dabbing at her wet eyes , and telling herself not to be such a sentimental idiot .sx Silly to be shedding tears because you had turned down a man who didn't really matter a button to you .sx Oh , he's nice enough !sx Joanna admitted .sx But there's nothing thrilling about poor old Steve .sx Nothing to make one's nerves tingle and one's heart race- as it had done only this morning .sx A dreamy smile spread over her face as her mind went back to those heavenly moments .sx Leaving Lorraine to finish their packing , she had gone out to buy some cigarettes , and , just outside the hotel , had almost run into Oliver .sx " I wanted to come and see you off , " he had told her , with that softening of his expression which always made her feel oddly breathless .sx " But my wife reminded me that I have an appointment at just about the time your train leaves , so I decided to nip along in the hope of seeing you before you left the hotel .sx It's going to seem a long time until the end of this month , Jo my dear , but when you come back .sx . " his hand had closed over hers warmly " .sx . we'll make up for all the empty days .sx Will they seem empty to you too , do you think ?sx " She had nodded , unable to find words that would tell him her feelings .sx " Well , it must be 6Au revoir , then .sx " He had put his hands on her shoulders and smiled down into her eyes .sx " Wish this wasn't such a damned public place , or I'd say good-bye to you properly- you sweet thing !sx " His voice fell to so soft a tone that she barely caught the last three words .sx And with that , before she could take a breath , he was gone , leaving her caught up to a pitch of excitement and ecstasy that was yet perilously near to tears .sx All the way home that parting speech had sung itself , over and over , in her mind .sx " You sweet thing .sx " Did that mean- no , it couldn't mean that Oliver was in love with her ?sx But she reminded herself , he doesn't say things like that to Lorraine !sx He must like me better !sx And then , following hard on that delicious knowledge would come the inevitable thought , But he's married !sx It can't mean anything- except that he's taken a fancy to me .sx