Joan interrupted him: "But Elizabeth isn't drained dry; she's the cleverest woman I know." "Yes, now, perhaps." "She always will be," said Joan coldly. He felt that he had gone too far; he didn't want to quarrel with her. "I'm sorry," he said humbly. "It's my fault, I suppose. I mean I daresay I'm selfish and self-opinionated, and perhaps I'm not such great shakes, after all. Anyhow, you know I'm awfully fond of Elizabeth." Joan was pacified. "One does get fond of her," she told him. "She's so calm and neat and masterful, so certain of herself and yet so awfully kind." He changed the subject. "I'm swatting at Cambridge," he announced. "Are you?" He heard the interest in her voice and wondered why his casual remark had aroused it. "Yes; when I've taken my science degree I shall go up to London for hospital work--and then "--he gave a sigh of contentment--"I shall get my Medical--and then Germany. You ought to go to Cambridge, Joan." "Is it expensive? Does it cost much?" she asked him. "Well, that depends. Why, are you really going?" She hesitated. "Elizabeth would like me to." "Oh, yes, she was there, wasn't she? Well, you won't be there when I am, I'm afraid; we'll just miss it by a year." "I don't suppose I shall go at all." "Why not?" "Oh, lots of reasons. We're poor, you know." "Then try for a scholarship." "I'd probably fail if I did." "Why on earth should you fail; you're very clever, aren't you?" She began to laugh. "I don't know if I'm what you would call clever; you see you think yourself clever, and I'm not a bit like you. I like working, though, so perhaps I'd get through." Elizabeth, coming towards them across the lawn, heard the laugh and blessed Richard. CHAPTER FOURTEEN 1 IT is strange in this world, how events of momentous importance happen without any warning, and do not, as is commonly stated, "Cast their shadows before." Moreover, they reach us from the most unexpected quarters and at a time when we are least prepared, and such an event dropped out of space upon the Ogden household a few days later. The concrete form which it took was simple enough--a small business envelope on Colonel Ogden's breakfast tray; he opened it, and as he read his face became suffused with excitement. He tried to get up, but the tea spilt in his efforts to remove the heavy tray from his lap. "Mary!" he shouted, "Mary!" Mrs. Ogden, who was presiding at the breakfast table, heard him call, and also the loud thumping of the stick which he now kept beside the bed. He used it freely to attract his family's attention to his innumerable needs. She rose hastily. Joan and Milly heard the quick patter of her steps as she hurried upstairs, followed, in what seemed an incredibly short time, by her tread on the bedroom floor, and then the murmur of excited conversation. Joan sighed. "Is it the butter or the bacon?" queried Milly.