She knocked softly therefore, and in a moment heard one of them leap to open it.
It was Ronald, clad in pyjamas but unfailingly courteous, who invited her to enter.
"I knew it must be you, Mrs.Denys.Come in! Very pleased to see you.
Wait a second while I light a candle!" He did so, and revealed Julian sitting up in bed with sullen defiance writ large upon his face.

But he smiled at sight of her, and patted the side of his bed invitingly.
"Don't sit on the chair! It's untrustworthy.

It's awfully decent of you to look us up like this,--that is, if you haven't come to preach." "I haven't," said Avery, accepting the invitation since she felt too weary to stand.
Julian nodded approval.

"That's right.

I knew you were too much of a brick.