Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/400

Rh distance between two such natures was unspannable. Amherst had done well to remain away … and with a tidal rush her sympathies swept back to his side.…

The governess came to claim Cicely. One of the footmen came to put another log on the ﬁre. Then the rite of removing the tea-table was majestically performed—the ceremonial that had so often jarred on Amherst’s nerves. As she watched it, Justine had a vague sense of the immutability of the household routine—a queer awed feeling that, whatever happened, a machine so perfectly adjusted would work on inexorably, like a natural law.…

She rose to look out of the window, staring vainly into blackness between the parted curtains. As she turned back, passing the writing-table, she noticed that Cicely’s irruption had made her forget to post her letters—an unusual oversight. A glance at the clock told her that she was not too late for the mail—reminding her, at the same time, that it was scarcely three hours since Bessy had started on her ride.… She saw the foolishness of her fears. Even in winter, Bessy often rode for more than three hours; and now that the days were growing longer

Suddenly reassured, Justine went out into the hall, intending to carry her batch of letters to the red pillar-box by the door. As she did so, a cold blast struck [ 384 ]