William gave her the sense of relief, providing her at last with someone to turn to if Morel failed.

But the tense atmosphere of the room on these waiting evenings was the same.
The minutes ticked away.

At six o'clock still the cloth lay on the table, still the dinner stood waiting, still the same sense of anxiety and expectation in the room.

The boy could not stand it any longer.

He could not go out and play.