Her mother's successor, whom she could not really like, would question her more searchingly, more embarrassingly, with an ill-concealed note of jealousy in every word.

Even at twelve years Mathilde was shocked by the strain of hatred in her father's new wife, who seemed to reproach her for fashion and fineness and fastidiousness, qualities of which the girl was utterly unaware.

She could have loved her little half-brother when he appeared upon the scene, but Mrs.Severance did not encourage the bond, and gradually Mathilde's visits to her father ceased.
As a child she had been curious about the reasons for the parting, but as she grew older it had seemed mere loyalty to accept the fact without asking why; she had perhaps not wanted to know why.

But now, she saw, she was to hear.
"Mathilde, do you still love your father ?" "I think I do, Mama.

I feel very sorry for him." "Why ?" "I don't know why.