“My dear,” she said, when she could get her breath, “you must come home at once.”
Ann Veronica closed the door quite softly and stood still.
“This has almost killed your father.... After Gwen!”
“I sent a telegram.”
“He cares so much for you. He did so care for you.”
“I sent a telegram to say I was all right.”
“All right! And I never dreamed anything of the sort was going on. I had no idea!” She sat down abruptly and threw her wrists limply upon the table. “Oh, Veronica!” she said, “to leave your home!”
She had been weeping. She was weeping now. Ann Veronica was overcome by this amount of emotion.
“Why did you do it?” her aunt urged. “Why could you not confide in us?”
“Do what?” said Ann Veronica.