as she could after she'd wrote the letter, for if Lizzie had a hard
thing to do, she was one as couldn't stop to think much about it, or
she'd never do it at all. She's put London on the top of her letter,
and the London train comes in at four-fifteen, and I'm thinking I'd
better go and meet it, any way, and then, if the child don't come by
it, I can tell Station-Master I'm expecting my little grandchild, but
I don't know exactly when, and when she do come, will he keep her
safe if I ain't there in time. I can't think of nothing better than
that."

Patience rose briskly, with a look of relief on her face. There was
something very wonderful in the thought that before another night she
might be holding her own little grandchild in her arms. "What a
head-piece you have got, father!" she cried admiringly. "Well, I
mustn't stay here talking, or I shan't be ready. If I'd got the time
I'd have whitened the ceiling and put a clean pretty paper on the
walls of the little room."

"Little room!--are--are you giving her--Lizzie's room?" There was a
note of shock or dismay in Thomas's voice.

"Yes," said Patience shortly. "The child must have a room, of
course, and there isn't any other!" she answered shortly, because it
hurt her to say what she had to, and she knew it would hurt Thomas
even more to hear it. Lizzie's little bedroom had never been looked
into by him since Lizzie had run away and left them, and Patience
herself had only gone in now and then, when, for the sake of her own
pride in her cottage, and to prevent her neighbour's comments, the
window had to be cleaned and a fresh muslin blind put up.