“I am glad you know her so well, Marcia, and I hope you will have a pleasant time when you go to Hurst Castle. You say Sir Edward is staying there at present?”
“Yes, with some relatives.”
“And Angela?”
“Yes, they’re going to spend some months there this summer.”
Marcia then calmly read her remaining letters and then, just nodding towards Ethel, she said:
“I think it is your turn to look after mother, dear,” and she left the room.
But just as she reached the door she came back.
“Be very careful, dear Ethel, not to allow her to sit in the sun. It is such a beautiful day that I think you might wheel her on to the balcony, where she can get some fresh air. Just do your best to make her happy. I shall be so pleased if I see her looking bright and comfortable this afternoon.”
To these remarks Ethel proudly withheld any comment Marcia, not in the least disturbed, hurried away.
“Well,” said Nesta, when her father and brother and elder sister had made themselves scarce, “she doesn’t seem to be much put out by the beginning of Coventry; does she, Molly?”