A pile of correspondence was awaiting her and, standing by the desk, she began to open and read it.

Suddenly she paused, conscious that someone had entered the room and, turning, she saw Hilda.

She must have left the door ajar, for she had heard no sound.

The child closed the door noiselessly and came across, holding out a letter.
"Papa told me to give you this the moment you came in," she said.

Joan had not yet taken off her things.