"I can't at any rate make out," I said, "why I didn't hear from Mrs.Meldrum." "She didn't write to you ?" "Never a word.

What has become of her ?" "I think she's at Folkestone," Dawling returned; "but I'm sorry to say that practically she has ceased to see us." "You haven't quarrelled with her ?" "How _could_ we?
Think of all we owe her.

At the time of our marriage, and for months before, she did everything for us: I don't know how we should have managed without her.

But since then she has never been near us and has given us rather markedly little encouragement to keep up relations with her." I was struck with this, though of course I admit I am struck with all sorts of things.

"Well," I said after a moment, "even if I could imagine a reason for that attitude it wouldn't explain why she shouldn't have taken account of my natural interest." "Just so." Dawling's face was a windowless wall.