Could he see his old friends to-morrow?
He would call in the afternoon.
"Better reply to-night," said Olga, "and save him the trouble of coming here." The letter in her hand, Mrs.Hannaford stood thinking, a half-smile about her lips.
"Yes; I must write," she said slowly.

"But perhaps he could come and see us in the country.

I'll tell him where we are going." They talked of possible retreats, and decided upon Epsom, which was not far from their old home at Ewell; then Mrs.Hannaford replied to Otway.
Through the past three years she had often heard from him, and she knew that he was purposing a visit to England, but no date had been mentioned.

After writing, she was silent, thoughtful.

Olga, too, having been out to post the letter, sat absorbed in her own meditations.