but I should be back in an hour or so . oh , at the hospital , I suppose ! Lorraine did not wait for her mother to confirm or deny this , but turned back to Noreen . 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 . Mr Delorme was thrilled ! Joanna went on breathlessly . he &apos;s suggested we should go to town as soon as it can be arranged , and , when we &apos;re settled , he &apos;s going to put us on at the Lys d&apos;Or , which is a very exclusive night club . Noreen looked doubtful . but is that what you wanted ? I thought you hoped to get on the stage or television ? a night club sounds rather a come-down . I do n&apos;t want to sound discouraging , but are n&apos;t some of them pretty low dives ? Lorraine , who had been lounging on the cushioned window-seat , straightened up and leant forward eagerly . do n&apos;t be so nai&quot;ve and stupid , Norrie ! there are night clubs and night clubs , as you &apos;d know , if you were n&apos;t such an ignoramus ! this is one of the top places , frightfully swell . we &apos;ll get a wonderful salary if we deliver the goods , and get to know a lot of useful people . Oliver knows Mr Delorme quite well , Joanna put in , not noticing how Noreen &apos;s eyebrows went up at her unthinking use of his first name . and if he backs anybody , that &apos;s surely good enough ! there was such warmth of partisanship in her tone that Noreen was astonished . she said impulsively : but you hardly know him , Jo ! Mr Randall , I mean . how can you be so sure that he &apos;s on the level ? Joanna stubbed out her cigarette with unnecessary fierceness . her lovely eyes were defiant above cheeks whose colour had deepened at Noreen &apos;s remark . there are some people you do n&apos;t have to know for years before you can trust them . and Oliver Randall &apos;s one of them . he &apos;s absolutely wonderful ! he &apos;s promised to find us a flat - over Joanna &apos;s coppery head , Lorraine &apos;s eyes met Noreen &apos;s enquiring gaze . she laughed mischievously , and without envy . as you may have gathered , Norrie , Jo &apos;s fallen for the man , hook , line and sinker ! and I &apos;d say he &apos;d be equally enthusiastic , if it was n&apos;t for his wife &apos;s restraining influence . I &apos;ve warned Jo already that she must walk warily when that lady &apos;s around . Joanna sprang suddenly to her feet . do n&apos;t talk rubbish , Lorraine ! I do like Oliver , and he &apos;s been perfectly sweet to us both - you must admit that ! not only to me , as you seem to imply . there &apos;s no need to put ridiculous ideas into Norrie &apos;s head . by the way ! she turned to Noreen . I suppose you realize that we want you to come with us when we go back to town ? we explained to Mr Delorme that we must have you as our accompanist . me ? Noreen was taken aback . somehow , she had quite overlooked this possibility , and though , at one time , she had been hurt by her sisters &apos; apparent disregard of her , she was now aware that the prospect of leaving Dorlcombe was oddly unwelcome . Mummy will n&apos;t like it if we all go off and leave her . Joanna shrugged impatiently . if you prefer to stick here in this dreary place - and you know just how dull and forsaken it is after the season &apos;s over - that &apos;s your look-out . but I must say I think it &apos;s rather mean of you , especially after we insisted to Mr Delorme that we must have you , as well . let me talk to Mummy ! I do n&apos;t suppose she &apos;ll raise any objection . Noreen said no more . she felt that the twins would not understand if she attempted to make them see her point of view . their trip to town , she thought , seemed to have changed them in some inexplicable way . 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 . yet their mother , as Noreen knew , had done everything in her power to make them happy . surely she would feel very lost and lonely if all her children deserted her ? when Mrs Sangster returned , they could hear her talking to someone as she came up the stairs . Joanna and Lorraine looked at each other in bewilderment , but Noreen , recognizing Stephen &apos;s quiet , pleasant voice , went out to meet them . 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 . Mr Redfern very kindly brought me home in his car , Mrs Sangster explained as they came into the room . Lorraine greeted him pleasantly enough , but Joanna &apos;s greeting was barely polite . after a few moments of general conversation , Mrs Sangster said : well , I &apos;m going to see about some supper . you &apos;ll stay and have some with us , will n&apos;t you , Mr Redfern ? Lorraine dear , do come down with me and tell me all your news . I &apos;m longing to hear how you got on in town . and , Noreen , did you remember to feed the chickens ? the two girls followed their mother downstairs , Noreen carefully shutting the door behind them , and deliberately ignoring Joanna &apos;s murmur of protest . after they had gone , there was an awkward little silence , then Stephen said gently : I hope everything went as well as you expected , Jo ? oh yes ! better , really . we shall be going to London at the end of this month . she jumped up and began straightening some magazines on the table . we &apos;ve been offered a very good engagement , you see . he rose and came over , standing just behind her . a tiny shiver went down Joanna &apos;s spine , but he did not touch her . well , that &apos;s grand ! just what you hoped for , is n&apos;t it ? as a matter of fact , I &apos;ve got some news for you , too . though I &apos;m afraid it will n&apos;t seem very exciting to you - now . she swung round to face him , arms folded , clear eyes wide . 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 . 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 . why not , Steve ? always glad to hear of a friend &apos;s good fortune ! her tone was deliberately casual and gay , and nothing in her manner betrayed the way in which her heart was racing . have you gone and got yourself engaged or something ? he faced her steadily , no answering gaiety in his eyes . you can n&apos;t really think that , Jo . when you know there &apos;s only one girl I &apos;d ever want to be engaged to . no , I &apos;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 . but I - Joanna began . she stepped quickly aside , and would have moved away from him , but he laid a restraining hand on her arm . gentle though it was , there was the suggestion of power behind that touch , and involuntarily she stood still . I &apos;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 . I &apos;ve loved you ever since you were a schoolgirl , Jo , but I did n&apos;t think I stood a chance compared with all your other admirers . you wanted gaiety and fun ; I was hard up and had to put my studies first . my parents sacrificed a lot to pay for my training , and it would n&apos;t have been right to let them down . but now I &apos;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 . do n&apos;t go on , Steve ! oh , do n&apos;t think I do n&apos;t like you , and I suppose I should say thank you for - for wanting to marry me . but it &apos;s quite impossible - it always will be impossible ! do n&apos;t you understand , the sort of life you &apos;re offering me - just living in Quaystone and keeping house and all that - it &apos;s so deadly dull ! I want something different - all the things that I &apos;ve now got the chance of enjoying . even if I loved you , I &apos;m afraid I would n&apos;t say yes ! there was silence . wondering , expecting a protest , she half turned and looked at him . 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&apos;s-tail on the crown . Joanna &apos;s eyes suddenly softened , and a reluctant feeling of compassion swept over her . but , before she could speak , he had recovered his normal self-control . if you loved me , as you say , - well , it might not seem so deadly dull . but you do n&apos;t , and that &apos;s that ! he smiled , and held out his hand . let &apos;s part good friends , Jo dear . if you &apos;re going to get your heart &apos;s desire , that &apos;s all that really matters to me . will you apologize to your mother for me , and tell her I &apos;m sorry I can n&apos;t stay to supper , after all ? as the outer door shut behind him , Noreen put her head round the kitchen door and said doubtfully : did I hear somebody ? Steve &apos;s gone . he could n&apos;t stay , after all , Joanna said . she went quickly along the landing to her room and shut the door behind her . 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 . silly to be shedding tears because you had turned down a man who did n&apos;t really matter a button to you . oh , he &apos;s nice enough ! Joanna admitted . but there &apos;s nothing thrilling about poor old Steve . nothing to make one &apos;s nerves tingle and one &apos;s heart race - as it had done only this morning . a dreamy smile spread over her face as her mind went back to those heavenly moments . leaving Lorraine to finish their packing , she had gone out to buy some cigarettes , and , just outside the hotel , had almost run into Oliver . 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 . 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 . it &apos;s going to seem a long time until the end of this month , Jo my dear , but when you come back &amp;hellip; his hand had closed over hers warmly &amp;hellip; we &apos;ll make up for all the empty days . will they seem empty to you too , do you think ? she had nodded , unable to find words that would tell him her feelings . well , it must be au revoir , then . he had put his hands on her shoulders and smiled down into her eyes . wish this was n&apos;t such a damned public place , or I &apos;d say good-bye to you properly - you sweet thing ! his voice fell to so soft a tone that she barely caught the last three words . 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 . all the way home that parting speech had sung itself , over and over , in her mind . you sweet thing . did that mean - no , it could n&apos;t mean that Oliver was in love with her ? but she reminded herself , he does n&apos;t say things like that to Lorraine ! he must like me better ! and then , following hard on that delicious knowledge would come the inevitable thought , but he &apos;s married ! it can n&apos;t mean anything - except that he &apos;s taken a fancy to me . 