When once Nigel got away to school and college, he spent as little time at home as possible.
Helen was as solitary as a sea-bird, blown far inland and snared.

Then came the visits to Merriston House--the cheerful, chattering houseful of happy girls, the kind father and mother, and Gerald.

Gerald! From the time that he came into her life all the pictures were full of him, so full that she hardly saw herself any longer; she was only some one who watched and felt.
Her violent nature, undisciplined except by its own pride, did not submit easily to the taming processes of a wholesome family life; she dominated the girl cousins, and they only counted as chorus in the drama of her youth.

It was Gerald who counted, at once, counted for everything else.

She cared so much for him that, feeling her independence slipping from her, she at first quarrelled with him constantly, as far as he would let her quarrel with him.