Eileen gave Katy instructions to have things ready for a midnight lunch for her and John Gilman and then, humming her tune again, she left the dining room and went upstairs.

Linda stood looking after her.
"Now or never," she said at last.

"I have no business to let her meet John until I have recovered my self-respect.

But the Lord help me to do the thing decently!" So she followed Eileen up the stairway.

She tapped at the door, and without waiting to hear whether she was invited or not, opened it and stepped inside.