She was in certain ways a silent child, and no one but herself knew how little she had forgotten Rosy, how often she pondered over her, how sometimes she had lain awake in the night and puzzled out lines of argument concerning her and things which might be true.
The one grief of poor Mrs.Vanderpoel's life had been the apparent estrangement of her eldest child.

After her first six months in England Lady Anstruthers' letters had become fewer and farther between, and had given so little information connected with herself that affectionate curiosity became discouraged.

Sir Nigel's brief and rare epistles revealed so little desire for any relationship with his wife's family that gradually Rosy's image seemed to fade into far distance and become fainter with the passing of each month.

It seemed almost an incredible thing, when they allowed themselves to think of it, but no member of the family had ever been to Stornham Court.

Two or three efforts to arrange a visit had been made, but on each occasion had failed through some apparently accidental cause.