Already she had a vibrant regret.
"You enjoyed being out of town, of course," Janet said.
"It is always pleasant to leave London for a while, I think." There was a cool masterfulness in the tone of this that arrested Elfrida's feeling of half-penitence, and armed her instantly.

Whatever desire she had felt to assert and indulge her individuality at any expense, in her own attitude there had been the consciousness of what they owed one another.

She had defied it, perhaps, but it had been there.

In this it was ignored; Janet had gone a step further--her tone expressed the blankest indifference.
Elfrida drew herself up.
"Thanks, it was delightful.

An escape from London always is, as you say.