He had seen so little of his daughter during the five years they had lived at Naples that, though in a sense he was fond of her, she was more of an embarrassment to him than an asset.

Lorna realized this only too keenly.

Her sensitive disposition shrank away from her father.

She was shy in his presence, and never knew what to say to him.

She seemed always aware of some enormous shadow that hung over their lives and darkened the daylight.