Here Priscilla awaited her, having successfully hidden her absence.

It was half past ten o'clock.
Halcyone went to the window and looked out upon the trees in the triangular piece of green.

They were not her trees, but they were still Nature, of a stunted kind, and they would understand and comfort her or, at all events, enable her to regain some calm.
She took in deep breaths, and gradually a peace fell upon her.

Her friend God would never desert her, she felt.
And Priscilla said to herself: "She's prayin' to them Immortals, I expect.

Well, whoever she prays to, she is a precious saint.".