It had been arranged that Tom should go and fetch his sister on Friday,
but by the first post on Friday morning Miss Merivale got a letter from
Rose, saying that Pauline would return with her that afternoon, and that
there was no need for Tom to come to London. It was at Pauline's
instigation Rose had written the letter. Those few charmed days in the
little flat had made Rose more passionately desirous than ever to get away
from Woodcote, and Pauline had suggested that she should go home with Rose
and beg her aunt to allow her to pay a longer visit a little later in the
year.
"May is the best month of the year in London, Rose. You shall spend May
with me. The flat will have to be given up then, if I cannot get anyone to
share it with me. Lady Desborough only took it till the end of April. But
we will have a lovely May together. I am sure your aunt will not refuse to
let you come."
"I couldn't possibly stay away for a month," Rose said firmly, but with
the air of a martyr. "Aunt Lucy looked heartbroken when I asked for a week
this time. She has got to depend on me for everything."
"Just so. But if you were away she would do things for herself, and it
would be a thousand times better for her. She won't have missed you this
time as much as you fear, Rosie. And won't you think of me a little bit?
Just think how lonely I shall be!"
"Oh, I know.
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