[MaC] The Lift is Fixed!

[Pruehs, Ree M.]

> > Esme seemed to shrink back sligghtly as they addressed her.
> > 
> > "Oh ... yes ... no need to apologise," she said hurriedly.  
> She stood 
> > up
> > quickly.
> > 
> > "If ... you'll just excuse me," she said, and she headed towards the
> > stairs down to the lower level, leaving her handbag behind.
> 
> 	Pamela's first impulse was to go after her, but Philip 
> had not yet come 
> back with the sherries, and to abandon him would be horribly rude, 
> especially (she now saw) after his ill-treatment at The 
> Actresses' hands.
> 
> 	She picked up the handbag instead, holding it between 
> elbow and side as 
> though it were her own kit-bag, and endeavoured to smooth the rough 
> waters. "Poor dear; the war has us all on edge, as usual," 
> she said. "I 
> hope she's not had ill news. I worry so for -- for my brother Edmund 
> that I cringe at every knock on our door."

"Ye-es," said Vangie thoughtfully, watching Esme's retreating back.
"It's enough to keep anyone on tenterhooks. I think I'll just go to see
if she's all right."

And with that she followed their departed hostess.
 
> 	<tag, erm, Esme, I suppose...>