She too had had a hard day, he recalled, a day all filled with turbulence, with problems and with vexing toil, in her enormous family.

And he felt he could not blame her for not being of more help at home.

Still, he had been disappointed of late in her manner toward her sister.

He had hoped she would draw closer to Edith, now that again they were living together in their old home where they had been born.

But no, it had worked just the opposite way.