"What a little way brings us into a different world!" said Sylvie as they rode along. "Just back there in the city, you can hardly believe in these hills."
Her own words reminded her.
"I suppose we shall find, sometime," she said gently, "that the other world is only a little way out."
"I've been very sorry for you, Sylvie," said Rodney. "I hope you know that."
His slight abruptness told her how the thought had been ready and pressing for speech, underneath all their casual talk.
And he had dropped the prefix from her name.
He had not meant to, but he could not go back and put it on. It was another little falling out that he could not help. The things he could not help were the most comfortable.
"Mother would have had a very hard time if she had lived," said Sylvie. "I am glad for her. It was a great deal better. And it came so tenderly! I had dreaded sickness and pain for her."
"It has been all hard for you. I hope it will be easier now. I hope it will always be easier."
"I am going to live with Mrs. Kirkbright," said Sylvie.