What was the use of regretting?
Alwynne was gone.... Then forget her.... There were other fish in the sea.... There was a promising class this term.... That child in the Fourth.... She wondered if Alwynne had noticed her.... She must ask Alwynne.... Alwynne had gone away, had gone to Dene, was going to marry Roger....
Well, there was always work.... Where was that letter to Miss Marsham?
She moved stiffly in her seat, lit a candle, and drew towards her the half-written sheet that lay open on the blotter. She re-read it.
You will, I am sure, understand how much I appreciate your offer of the partnership, but after much consideration I have decided——
She hesitated, crossed out the but and wrote an and above it, and continued—
—to accept it. I will come to tea to-morrow, as you kindly suggest.
She finished the letter, signed it, stamped and addressed, and sat idle at last, staring down at it.
The neat handwriting danced, and flickered, and grew dim.
With an awkward gesture she put her hands to her eyes, and brought them away again, wet. She smiled at that, a twisted, mocking smile. She supposed she was crying.... She did not remember ever having done such a thing....