"Who were you talking to, Nadine?"
"A Miss King."
"Oh, yes. The girl who spoke to Raymond the other night.
Well, Ray, why don't you go and speak to her now?
She's over there at the writing table."
The old woman's mouth widened into a malicious smile as she looked at Raymond.
His face flushed. He turned his head away and muttered something.
"What's that you say, son?"
"I don't want to speak to her."
"No, I thought not. You won't speak to her.
You couldn't, however much you wanted to!" She coughed suddenly - a wheezing cough. "I'm enjoying this trip, Nadine," she said.
"I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
"No?" Nadine's voice was expressionless.
"Ray."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Get me a piece of notepaper - from the table over there in the corner."
Raymond went off obediently.
Nadine raised her head.
She watched, not the boy, but the old woman.
Mrs. Boynton was leaning forward, her nostrils dilated as though with pleasure.
Ray passed close by Sarah. She looked up, a sudden hope showing in her face. It died down as he brushed past her, took some notepaper from the case and went back across the room.
There were little beads of sweat on his forehead as he rejoined them and his face was dead white.
Very softly Mrs. Boynton murmured: "Ah..." as she watched his face.
Then she saw Nadine's eyes fixed on her. Something in them made her own snap with sudden anger. "Where's Mr. Cope this morning?" she said.
Nadine's eyes dropped again. She answered in her gentle expressionless voice:
"I don't know.
I haven't seen him."
"I like him," said Mrs. Boynton. "I like him very much. We must see a good deal of him.
You'll like that, won't you?"
"Yes," said Nadine. "I, too, like him very much."
"What's the matter with Lennox lately?
He seems very dull and quiet.
Nothing wrong between you, is there?"
"Oh, no.
Why should there be?"
"I wondered. Married people don't always hit it off.
Perhaps you'd be happier living in a home of your own?"
Nadine did not answer.
"Well, what do you say to the idea?
Does it appeal to you?"
Nadine shook her head. She said, smiling:
"I don't think it would appeal to you. Mother."
Mrs. Boynton's eyelids flickered.
She said sharply and venomously: "You've always been against me, Nadine."
The younger woman replied evenly: "I'm sorry you should think that."
The old woman's hand closed on her stick.
Her face seemed to get a shade more purple.
She said, with a change of tone: "I forgot my drops. Get them for me, Nadine."
"Certainly."
Nadine got up and crossed the lounge to the elevator.