[CHAPTER VI]
The day after Rudd dined with me I was summoned by telegram to London. My favourite sister, who is married and whom I seldom see, was seriously ill. She wanted to see me. I started at once for London and found matters better than I expected, but still rather serious. I stayed with my sister nearly a month, by which time she was convalescent. Kennaway insisted on my going back to Haréville to finish my cure.
When I got back, I found all the members of the group to which I had become semi-attached still there, and I made a new acquaintance: Mrs. Summer, who had just come back from the Lakes. I know little about her. I can only guess at her appearance. I know that she is married and that she cannot be very young and that is all. On the other hand, I feel now that I know a great deal about her.
We sat after dinner in the park. She is a friend of Miss Brandon's. We talked of her. Mrs. Summer said:
"The air here has done her such a lot of good."
She meant to say: "She is looking much better than she did when she arrived," but she did not want to talk about looks to me.
I said: "She must get tired of coming here year after year."
Mrs. Summer said that Miss Brandon hated London almost as much.
I said: "You have known her a long time?"
She said: "All her life. Ever since she was tiny."