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Updated: September 15, 2025
And, in nearing the LESSINGSTRASSE, he followed an impulse to go to Ephie and to let her merry laugh wipe out the last traces of his ill-humour. Mrs. Cayhill and Johanna were both reading in the sitting room, and though Johanna agreeably laid aside her book, conversation languished.
But as Maurice made no mien to explain matters further, she so far conquered her aversion as to ask: "What have you done to her?" The young man's consternation at this view of the case was so evident that even she felt the need of wording her question differently. "Answer me. What is Ephie doing at your rooms?" Maurice cleared his throat. "It's a long and unpleasant story, Miss Cayhill.
"No one could be more in earnest than he is; but Ephie only makes fun of him, in a heartless way. She won't see what a grave matter it is to him." Mrs. Cayhill laughed, not at all displeased. "Young people will be young people. You can't put old heads on young shoulders, Joan, or shut them up in separate houses. Ephie is an extremely pretty girl, and it will be the same wherever we go.
Cayhill comfortably settled with her bags, books and cushions, in the corner of a first-class carriage, and given Johanna assistance with the tickets, he stood till the train went, talking to Ephie; and he long retained a picture of her, standing with one foot on the step, in a becoming travelling-dress, a hat with a veil flying from it, and a small hand-bag slung across her shoulder, laughing and dimpling, and well aware of the admiring glances that were cast at her.
And look at my muscle." She turned back the loose sleeve of her blouse, baring almost the whole of her rounded arm; then, folding it sharply to her, she invited one after another to test its firmness. "Quite a prize-fighter, I declare!" laughed Mrs. Cayhill, at the same time drawing her little daughter to her, to kiss her.
Cayhill and Johanna were in the sitting-room; Johanna looked very surprised to see him. They had this moment risen from the supper-table, she told him; Ephie had only just got home in time. Before anything further could be said, Ephie herself came into the room; her face was flushed, and she did not seem well-pleased at his unexpected visit.
Then she put a brave face on it, and opened the door. "Here we are, mummy. Good night. I hope the evening wasn't too long." Long? on the contrary the hours had flown. Mrs. Cayhill, left to herself, had all the comfortable sensations of a tippler in the company of his bottle.
Cayhill is coming over to fetch us back and ... and everything." She spoke with heat; for she knew from experience that what her elder daughter resolved on, was likely to be carried through. "That is all very well, mother," continued Johanna unmoved. "But I don't think your arguments are sound if we find that Ephie is really sick, and needs a change." "Arguments not sound!
What the latter had to say would only be a reminder that it was mail-day, and no letters were ready; or that if she did not put on her bonnet and go out for a walk, she would be obliged to take another of her nerve-powders that night: and Mrs. Cayhill hated moral persuasion with all her heart.
Cayhill, looking up from her book with her kindly smile. "She has never been used to walking and is easily tired aren't you, my pet?" "Yes, and then she can't get up the next morning," said Johanna, mildly dogmatic, considering the following sentence of her letter. Gradually it broke upon Maurice that Ephie had been making use of his name.
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