Part 58 (1/2)

”You must suit yourself absolutely, of course.”

”Supposing you came to us at the end of the week?” Violet suggested.

”Say Sat.u.r.day. Pamela is going away then to pay one or two visits--and I shall have you all to myself.”

Alex looked at her wonderingly.

It seemed to her incredible that Violet should actually want her, so engrained was her sense of her own isolation of spirit. That terrible isolation of those who have definitely, and for long past, lost all self-confidence, and which can never be realized or penetrated by those outside.

”That will be delightful,” said Violet, seeming to take her acceptance for granted.

Barbara got up, smoothing her skirt gently.

”We really ought to be going, Alex. I said we'd be in to tea, and it takes such ages to get back.”

Alex rose submissively. She marvelled at the a.s.surance of Barbara, even at the ease of her conventionally affectionate farewells.

”Well, good-bye, my dear. When are you coming out to the wilds to look me up?”

Then, without giving her sister-in-law time to reply, she added gaily, ”You must ring me up and let me know, when you've a spare moment. You know I'm always a fixture. What a blessing the telephone is!”

”Then we'll see you on Sat.u.r.day, Alex,” said her brother. ”Good! Take care of yourself, my dear.” He looked after her with an expression of concern, as the servant held open the door for her and Barbara and they went into the street. Alex could not believe that this kindly, rather pompous man was her younger brother.

”Cedric has grown very good-looking, but I didn't expect to see him so--so _old_, somehow,” she said.

Barbara laughed.

”Time hasn't stood still with any of us, you know. _I_ think Violet looks older than he does--she is, of course. She'll be a mountain in a few years' time, if she doesn't take care.”

”Oh, Barbara! I think she's so pretty--and sweet.”

Barbara shrugged her shoulders very slightly.

”She and I have never made particularly violent friends, though I like her, of course. Pamela adores her--and I must say she's been good to Pam. But her kindness doesn't cost her anything. She's always been rich, and had everything she wanted--she was the only girl, and her people adored her, and now Cedric lets her do everything she likes. She spends any amount of money--look at her clothes, and the way she has little Rosemary always dressed in white.”

”Rosemary is lovely. It's so extraordinary to think of Cedric's child!”

Barbara tightened her lips.

”She ought to have been a boy, of course. Cedric pretended not to care, but it must have been a disappointment--and goodness only knows if Violet will ever--”

She stopped, throwing a quick glance out of the corners of her eyes at her sister.

Alex wondered why she did not finish her sentence, and what she had been about to say.

The constraint in her intercourse with Barbara was becoming more and more evident to her perceptions. It was clear that her sister did not intend to ask any questions as to the crisis through which Alex had pa.s.sed, and when she had once ascertained that Alex had not ”seen anybody” whilst in Rome, she did not refer to that either.

Alex wondered if Barbara would tell her anything of Ralph and their married life, but the reserve which had always been characteristic of Barbara since her nursery days, had hardened sensibly, and it was obvious that she wished neither to give nor to receive confidences.