For she could no longer pretend to herself that she looked upon Harry Feversham as a friend who was dead.

He was living, and in what straits she dreaded to think, and yet thirsted to know.

At rare times, indeed, her impatience got the better of her will.
"I suppose that escape is possible from Omdurman," she said one day, constraining her voice to an accent of indifference.
"Possible?
Yes, I think so," Durrance answered cheerfully.

"Of course it is difficult and would in any case take time.

Attempts, for instance, have been made to get Trench out and others, but the attempts have not yet succeeded.