On Lily's other side the Hannigan aunt murmured lugubriously:
"They must just try and begin life again, and make the best kind of a home they can. That's what I tell them. They've got to begin again, now."
And at the other end of the table Lily could hear yet another aunt telling Sylvia that she must be brave and eat some sponge-cake and drink up her tea.
Mrs. Hardinge did not appear at all.
Tea was prolonged as though nobody knew what was to be done, once it was over.
"They ought to go away, and make a thorough break," said Miss Hannigan to Lily. "Then they could come back here again, you know, and start fresh."
"Let me cut you a piece of cake, now," said her other neighbour.
She was relieved when a diversion was caused by the maid's announcement that her husband had come to fetch her.
Janet had gone upstairs to her mother, but Sylvia embraced Lily convulsively in the hall, and said:
"Oh, Lily! It's all so awful, and it goes on and on. I keep feeling that I shall wake up and find it's all a dream."