"I think," said Elizabeth, "that a great deal is going to be the matter unless something is done very soon." "You frighten me, Elizabeth; for goodness' sake explain yourself." "I don't want to frighten you, but I'm beginning to be frightened myself about Joan; she's been very queer for weeks, she looks terribly ill, and I think something is preying on her mind." "Preying on her mind?" "I think so--she seems unnatural--she isn't like Joan, somehow." "But, I haven't noticed all this!" Mrs. Ogden's voice was cold. "Are you sure that you're not over-anxious, Elizabeth?" "I'm sure I'm right. If you haven't noticed that Joan's ill, it must be because you have been so worried about Colonel Ogden." "Really, Elizabeth, I cannot think it possible that I, the child's mother, should not have noticed what you say, were it true." "Still, you haven't noticed it," said Elizabeth stubbornly. "No, I have not noticed it, but I'm glad to have an opportunity of telling you what I have noticed; and that is that you systematically encourage the child to overwork." Elizabeth stiffened. "She does overwork, though I have begged her not to, but I don't think it's that, entirely." "Then what do you think it is?" "Do you really want me to tell you?" "Certainly--why not?" "Because, when I do tell you, you'll get angry. Because it is a presumption on my part, I suppose, to say what I am going to say; because--oh! because after all I'm only the governess and you are her mother, but for all that I ought to tell you what I think." "You bewilder me, Elizabeth, I can't imagine what all this means; I didn't know, you see, that Joan made you her confidante." "She doesn't, and possibly that's a pity; I've never encouraged her to confide in me, and now I'm beginning to wonder whether I haven't been a fool." "I think that I, and not you, Elizabeth, would be the person in whom Joan would confide." "Yes, of course," said Elizabeth, but her voice lacked conviction. "Elizabeth! I don't like all this; I should be sorry if we couldn't get on together; it would, I frankly admit, be a disadvantage for the children to lose you, but you must understand at once that I cannot, will not, allow you to usurp my prerogatives." "I've never done so, knowingly, Mrs. Ogden." "But you are doing it now. You appear to want to call me to book, at least your manner suggests it. I cannot understand what it is you are driving at; I wish you would speak out, I detest veiled hints." "You don't like me, Mrs. Ogden; if I speak out you will like me even less----" Elizabeth's mind was working quickly; this might mean losing Joan--still, she must speak.