Though Elinor had tried to be just as usual at his last-but-one class, she could tell, by his thoughtful look on her whenever she glanced up from her notebook, that he had sensed something was different. She herself was thanking heaven that the session was mainly devoted to revision; for all her thoughts were with the time to come when she would be alone with him, she could never have learned anything new. At the end of class, when she was putting on her jacket, he managed to catch her eye before being surrounded by other students, and nodded imperceptibly. A sign, she knew, that they would meet as usual on the tram, which was what she wanted, yet sent her heart sinking. Surely someone would notice that her hands were trembling as she adjusted her hat? Surely, she had become very pale? Even Brenda, however, noticed nothing. ‘Oh, next week’s going to be so exciting, eh?’ she whispered to Elinor. ‘When we all get our references?’ ‘What references?’ ‘Weren’t you listening?
