My husband and I enjoyed our time abroad immensely: it was my
first visit to Greece and Italy and I loved every bit of
it--Athens is to me more wonderful than now, here so snugly in
England, seems possible; Florence and Rome very beautiful of
course but spoilt, don't you think, by tourists and the modern
Italian who has learnt American habits--

How is London? I've not yet had a good look at it since I came
back, but we shall be coming up soon, I expect, and have taken
a flat in Elliston Square, between Portland Place and Byranston
Square.

Your letter sounds a little dismal; it is kind of you to say
that I can help you, but, indeed, if writing to me helps do so.
It is only fair to say that at present my husband shares the
family point of view and, so long as that is so, I cannot ask
you to come and see me, but I hope that soon he will see the
whole affair more sensibly.

Yours very sincerely,

RACHEL SEDDON."

She was not proud of this letter when she read it. She whose impulse was
for truth seemed to be flung, at every turn, into direct dishonesty. No,
she would not seize on the excuse of some vague tyrannical fate.

She was herself her own agent in this affair and she bitterly, from her
heart, condemned herself ... and yet, strangely, this letter to Breton
seemed, in obedience to some inward impulse, her most honest action
since her marriage.

Yet why did she not go to Roddy now and say to him that she had written
to Breton and was determined to act as his friend?

Roddy would forbid any further relationship; she knew that. And then?...

No, she could not see beyond--

She banished the letter from her mind, saw the two of them off to Hawes,
and entertained Miss Crale to luncheon. Miss Crale was a broad and
shapeless old maid with huge boots, a bass voice and a moustache. She
was behind most of the charitable affairs in the county, was popular
everywhere, and the most energetic character Rachel had ever met--

Rachel liked her and she liked Rachel, and after she had departed,
breathless and red-faced, on some further visit concerned with some
further charity, Rachel felt braced and invigorated and happier than she
had been for many weeks.

It was a day of frosted blue and the sun flashed fire on to the great
field of snow that stretched from sky to sky. The Downs lay humped
against the blue and the whole world