"I say, Elma, what are we to do with Mother Mabel when she comes back? Does she mind this business, or are we allowed to refer to it in a jovial way?" "Jovial, I think," said Elma. "I believe Mabs is awfully relieved." She bent over and whispered to Lance. "I should myself you know if I had just got rid of Robin." Lance laughed immoderately. "He’s a rum chap," he said, "but he’s met a good match in Isobel. Great Scott, look at the stride on her. She could take Robin up and twist him into macaroni if she wanted to. I’m sorry for him." "What are you going to do for Sarah?" he asked abruptly. "Sarah?" asked Elma with her eyes wide. "Yes, you’ll have to marry the girl or something. It’s hard nuts on her. Why don’t you get Symington back and let him make up the quartette?" "Mr. Symington?" "Yes. It would be most appropriate, wouldn’t it? Robin and Isobel, and Symington and Sarah. It’s quite a neat arrangement. You’ve provided one husband, why not the other." Several demons of mischief danced in Lance’s eye. "Oh, Lance, don’t say that," said Elma; "it’s so horrid, and--and common." "Oh, it’s common, is it," said Lance, "common. And I’m going to be your stockbroker one day, and you talk to me like this." "Look here, Lance, I’d trust you with all my worldly wealth on the Stock Exchange, but I won’t let you joke about Mr. Symington." "Whew," said Lance, and he looked gently and amiably into the eyes of Elma. "When you look good like that, I know you are exceedingly naughty. What is it this time, Lance?" "Nothing, Elma, except----" "Except----" "That I have found out all I wanted to know about Symington, thank you." "You are just a common, low little gossip, Lance," said Elma with great severity. "Will you please get me a nice cool glass of iced lemonade." CHAPTER XXIV The Ham Sandwich Elma lay on her bed in the pink and white room. The first warm spring sunshine in vain tried to find an opening to filter through partly closed shutter and blinds. A nurse in grey dress and white cap and apron moved silently in the half-light created by drawn blinds and an open door She nodded to Mrs. Leighton who had just come in and who now sat near the darkened window. The nurse pointedly referred her to the bed, as though she had good news for her. Elma opened her eyes. Their misty violet seemed dazed with long sleep. "Oh, mummy, you there?" she asked. "Yes," said Mrs. Leighton quietly. Elma looked at her inquiringly. "Is there anything you want?" asked Mrs. Leighton in answer to that expression. How often had they asked the same question uselessly within the past weeks! Elma looked up at the white walls. "Yes, mummy, there’s one thing. I should like a large ham sandwich." "There," said Nurse emphatically. "That’s it. Now the fight is really going to begin." "I should like to have plenty of butter on it and quite a lot of mustard," said Elma.