I saw the boats go down as usual; so the river is open still." Irene did not reply.

Mr.Delancy looked at her curiously, but her face was partly turned away and he did not get its true expression.
The twenty-fourth came.

No letter had been received by Irene, nor had she written to New York since her arrival at Ivy Cliff.
"Isn't it singular that you don't get a letter from Hartley ?" said Mr.Delancy.
Irene had been sitting silent for some time when her father made this remark.
"He is very busy," she said, in reply.
"That's no excuse.

A man is never too busy to write to his absent wife." "I haven't expected a letter, and so am not disappointed.

But he's on his way, no doubt.