She thought that if she spent all the afternoon out and alone, it would comfort her, and she would think it out.

Trees and sky and sun had always a soothing effect on her.

She went out, walked a little, felt worried by the crowd of shoppers swarming to Sloane Street and the Brompton Road, got into a taxi and drove to the gate of Kensington Gardens, opposite Kensington Gore.

Here she soon found a seat.

At this time of the day the gardens were rather unoccupied, and in the burning July afternoon she felt almost as if in the country.