She had been prepared for a moment of intense surprise, followed by a rapture of pride and delight; then a wild rush to the nursery to see his first-born.

She was quite willing, now her part was over, that her part should be forgotten.

It was as unexpected as it was comfortingly precious, that Ronnie should be thus stricken by the thought of her pain, and of her need of him to help her bear it.
At last he said: "Helen, I see it all now.

It was the Upas tree indeed: utterly, preposterously, altogether, selfish!" "My darling, no!" she cried.

"Oh, don't be so unjust to yourself! When I used those terrible words, I thought you had had my letter, had come home knowing it all, yet absorbed completely in other things.