Margot's recovery was somewhat tedious, so that it was quite three weeks
after the departure of the brothers Elgood before she was strong enough
to face the journey home. In the meantime Edith remained in charge as
nurse, while Mr Vane and Ron varied the monotony of life in the Glen by
making short excursions of two or three days' duration to places of
interest in the neighbourhood.
Notwithstanding the unchanged position of affairs, they appeared to be
on unusually good terms, a fact which would have delighted Margot if she
had been in her usual health and spirits; but she had become of late so
languid and preoccupied as to appear almost unconscious of her
surroundings. Once a day she did, indeed, rouse herself sufficiently to
show some interest in passing events, that is to say, when the post
arrived in the morning; but the revival was but momentary, and on each
occasion was followed by a still deeper depression.
The elder sister was very tender during those days of waiting; very
tactful and patient with little outbursts of temper and unreasonable
changes of mind. She knew that it was not so much physical as mental
suffering which was retarding the girl's progress, and yearned over her
with a sympathy that was almost maternal in its depth.
The little sister had proved herself such a true friend during the
trials of the last few years, that she would have gone through fire and
water to save her from pain; but there are some things which even the
most devoted relative cannot do.
Edith could not, for instance, write to George Elgood and question him
concerning his silence: could not ask how it came to pass that while his
brother had written to Margot, to Ronald, even to herself, he remained
silent, content to send commonplace messages through a third person. As
for Margot herself, she never mentioned the younger of the two brothers,
but was always ready to talk about the elder, and seemed unaffectedly
pleased at her sister's appreciation of the kindly, genial little man.
"But why was he so sweet to me?" Edith would ask, with puzzled
wonderment. "From the moment I arrived he seemed to be on the outlook
to see how he could help. And he took an interest in Jack, and asked
all about him and his affairs. The astonishing thing is that I told
him, too! Though he was a stranger, his interest was so real and deep
that I could confide in him more easily than in many old friends. Had
you been talking about us to him, by any chance?"