“Of course it was all due to that ghastly evening when Clare got arrested. She knows that well enough.”
“Well, dear,” said Mrs. Heywood, “she has tried to make amends. The shock of your losing your place has made her much more gentle and loving. It has brought back all her loyalty to you, Herbert.”
“Loyalty!” said Herbert. “Where is she now, I should like to know?”
“She is gone to some committee meeting.”
“She’s always got a committee meeting,” said Herbert angrily, kicking the hassock.
“She joins a new committee for some kind of social reform nonsense every blessed day.”
“Well, it keeps her busy, dear,” said Mrs. Heywood gently. “Besides, it is not all committee work. Since she has been visiting the poor and helping in the slums she has been ever so much better in health and spirits.”
“Yes, but where the devil do I come in?” asked Herbert.
“Don’t you think you might go out, dear? Just for a little while?”
“I don’t want to go out, mother,” said Herbert with suppressed heat.