It is true that she had written to him every week during his long absence, but her letters had been all part of the "dear old lady" habit which was put on by her just as an actress prepares herself, nightly, for a character in which she knows she is the greatest possible success.

"Thank you very much, Mrs.Smith ...

No, we've not heard from Martin now for three weeks.

Careless boy! I always write myself every week so that he may have at any rate one little word from home ..." She had never felt that she had any real share in his life; he had always belonged to his father; nor was she a woman who cared about children.

Martin had long ago become to her simply an opportunity for further decoration.