He would only see her--she _did_ want to see him before they all separated for the summer! He could not think further than of the immediate future; he would see her; they could make plans afterwards.

Of course, her letter was simply pique! She had given herself away--twice--once in the angry letter, also in the previous one to Paris.

Where was she now?
What did it mean?
Why did she go out for the whole afternoon?
Where was she?
* * * * * After Edith had written and sent her letter to Aylmer in the morning, Mrs Ottley the elder came to fetch the children to dine, and Edith told Miss Townsend to go for the afternoon.

She was glad she would be absolutely alone.
'Aren't you very well, dear Mrs Ottley ?' asked this young lady, in her sweet, sympathetic way.
Edith was fond of her, and, by implication only, occasionally confided in her on other subjects than the children.

Today, however, Edith answered that she was _very_ well _indeed_, but was going to see about things before they went away.