It did not seem worth while to piece together so slight a friendship.
Hewet, indeed, might have found excellent material at this time up at the villa for some chapters in the novel which was to be called "Silence, or the Things People don't say." Helen and Rachel had become very silent.

Having detected, as she thought, a secret, and judging that Rachel meant to keep it from her, Mrs.Ambrose respected it carefully, but from that cause, though unintentionally, a curious atmosphere of reserve grew up between them.

Instead of sharing their views upon all subjects, and plunging after an idea wherever it might lead, they spoke chiefly in comment upon the people they saw, and the secret between them made itself felt in what they said even of Thornburys and Elliots.
Always calm and unemotional in her judgments, Mrs.Ambrose was now inclined to be definitely pessimistic.

She was not severe upon individuals so much as incredulous of the kindness of destiny, fate, what happens in the long run, and apt to insist that this was generally adverse to people in proportion as they deserved well.

Even this theory she was ready to discard in favour of one which made chaos triumphant, things happening for no reason at all, and every one groping about in illusion and ignorance.