Her guiding principle, the conservation of energy, did not abandon her in sorrow.
She sat, slim, motionless, studying the grate, her hands idle in the lap of her black silk dress.

They would want to rouse her into doing something, no doubt.

As if there were any good in that! Doing something would not bring back Ann! Why worry her?
Five o'clock brought three of the brothers, Jolyon and James and Swithin; Nicholas was at Yarmouth, and Roger had a bad attack of gout.
Mrs.Hayman had been by herself earlier in the day, and, after seeing Ann, had gone away, leaving a message for Timothy--which was kept from him--that she ought to have been told sooner.

In fact, there was a feeling amongst them all that they ought to have been told sooner, as though they had missed something; and James said: "I knew how it'd be; I told you she wouldn't last through the summer." Aunt Hester made no reply; it was nearly October, but what was the good of arguing; some people were never satisfied.
She sent up to tell her sister that the brothers were there.

Mrs.Small came down at once.