Although Susan had disclaimed any special interest in Francis Brandon, Jessica thought that she looked at each group of newcomers with more than usual interest and made several rather unconvincing excuses for not playing. Presently there came through the french window of the drawing-room a charming middle-aged woman with a tall, good-looking young man. Jessica was observing Susan closely. Susan did not colour, flutter, cast down her eyes, simper, or even faint. But her face, nearly always a happy one, looked faintly radiant as she went up to Mrs. Brandon, shook hands, smiled at Francis, and took Mrs. Brandon to where Mrs. Dean was sitting. Mrs. Dean got up and welcomed her guest, and both ladies then confounded themselves in apologies for not having called on one another before. Strictly s
