On the railway journey to London, Jacks
had the discretion to keep apart in a smoking-carriage. Dr. Derwent
and his daughter exchanged but few words until they found themselves
in Bryanston Square.
During their absence abroad, Mrs. Hannaford had been keeping house
for them. With brief intervals spent now and then in pursuit of
health, she had made Bryanston Square her home since the change in
her circumstances two years ago. Lee Hannaford held no communication
with her, content to draw the modest income she put at his disposal,
and Olga, her mother knew not why, was still unmarried, though
declaring herself still engaged to the man Kite. She lived here and
there in lodgings, at times seeming to maintain herself, at others
accepting help; her existence had an air of mystery far from
reassuring.
On meeting her aunt, Irene found her looking ill and troubled. Mrs.
Hannaford declared that she was much as usual, and evaded inquiries.
She passed from joy at her relatives' return to a mood of silent
depression; her eyes made one think that she must have often shed
tears of late. In the past twelvemonth she had noticeably aged; her
beauty was vanishing; a nervous tremor often affected her thin
hands, and in her speech there was at times a stammering
uncertainty, such as comes of mental distress. Dr. Derwent, seeing
her after two months' absence, was gravely observant of these
things.
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