Being so feminine, so enraged under her calm and ease, she was, of course, not completely consistent.

She was still angry, and very scornful of Miss Townsend.

She was hurt with her; she felt a friend had played her false--a friend, too, in the position of deepest trust, of grave responsibility.

Miss Townsend knew perfectly well what the children were to Edith, and, for all she knew, there was no-one in Edith's life except Bruce; so that it was rather cruel.

Edith intended to keep up her dignity so absolutely that Miss Townsend could never see her again, that she could never speak to Edith on the subject.