He had not thought she could get back so soon.

He brought an evening paper with him.

It contained a paragraph to the effect that Mrs.Phillips, wife of the Rt.Hon.Robert Phillips, M.P., was progressing favourably and hoped soon to be sufficiently recovered to return to her London residence.

It was the first time she had had a paragraph all to herself, headed with her name.

She flushed with pleasure; and Joan noticed that, after reading it again, she folded the paper up small and slipped it into her pocket.