Instinctive longings that she had fought against awoke.

She wanted somebody to shelter her and brush her troubles away.

Mabel had her husband, whom she loved; but she had chosen a rocky path that she must walk alone.
"I hope Jake is getting on well in British Columbia," she said.

"I suppose you hear from him ?" "He writes to us regularly and is getting on very well.

Finds his work absorbing and sees a chance of promotion, but it's obvious that he's not satisfied.