Spurgeon’s habit to retire to her room directly after luncheon and nap until tea. Abigail certainly did not seek to detain her. Vera went with her mistress, but promised to return within an hour for a game of backgammon with the younger woman. Abigail took the opportunity to visit Paggles in the nursery. When she returned to the sunny front parlor, Vera was setting up the game. “How is your nurse, Miss Smith?” she asked politely. “Sleeping—and please call me Abigail.” “Our old women seem to be on the same schedule,” Vera remarked, passing Abigail the dice cup. “Well, my dear? How deep shall we play?” Abigail sat down reluctantly, looking out the window at the sparkling white day. “As deep as you like,” was her careless reply. “But would you not rather go for a walk, Vera? I don’t deny it’s cold, but there’s something exhilarating about walking in the snow, and, look, the sun is out. We will not have very many days like this. The snow will soon melt, and there will be no walking in the sludge.”
