But she knew he had been desperately busy; and, with the home-coming so near, letters would have seemed to him almost impossible.
He could not know how her woman's heart had yearned to have him say at once: "I am glad, and you did right." Her nervousness increased, as the hour for the return of the carriage drew near.
She wished she could be sure of having time to run up again to the nursery with final instructions to Nurse.

Supposing baby woke, just as the carriage arrived, and the first sound Ronnie heard was the hungry wailing of his little son! Passing into the hall, she stood listening at the foot of the stairs.
All was quiet on the upper landing.
She returned to the sitting-room, and rang the bell.
"Simpkins," she said to her butler, "listen for the carriage and be at the door when it draws up.

It may arrive at any moment now.

Tell Mr.
West I am in here." She sat down, determined to wait calmly; took up the paper and tried to read an article on foreign policy.

It was then she discovered that her hands were trembling.
She laughed at herself, and felt better.
"Oh, what will Ronnie think of me! That I, of all people, should unexpectedly become nervous!" She walked over to the fireplace and saw reflected in the mirror over the mantel-piece, a very lovely, but a very white, face.