Her tall figure straightened to its full, regal height; her chin went up to its normal position; her wet handkerchief was stuffed, with dignified deliberateness, into the gold mesh bag.

A minute more to prove that she had completely mastered her emotions, and then she faced her children.

It was as if nothing had happened.

She was the calm and imperious mother they had always known.

Involuntarily, Anne uttered a deep sigh of relief.