She was careful to say ‘we’.

‘Ah,’ muttered Mr Pell.

He testily recalled Jimmy Barrell, who had gone into the kitchen, and Sophia opened the front door for him. She patted Jimmy, who wagged his tail, and the two went off together. Mr Pell’s back was bristling with gossip. It was fortunate (but Sophia had closed the door and could not see) that he should meet Colonel and Mrs Amsett, who had strolled out to post a letter, just outside Myrtle Cottage. The three stood talking for some time.

CHAPTER XX

No practical results came from Sophia’s visit to Uncle Preston the next day.

She went in a mood of sullen obstinacy and repelled all his accusations and questions with a polite cold vagueness.

She refused to discuss her brother’s actions.

The most she would do was to agree that it might be wiser if the two thousand pounds was invested; she promised to ask Harry to do this. Uncle Preston did not get from her the detailed, earnest and melodramatic discussion for which he longed. ‘She seems to take no interest,’ he said to Auntie Loo, fretfully, when she had gone. ‘She is a very hard girl, Looie. Very modern.’

Auntie Loo looked at him; and bounced her ball of wool so that it fell on the floor.

And despite a one-sidedly jocular conversation between Sophia and Aunt Maxine, and a one-sidedly indignant telephone conversation with Aunt Grace, who was waiting for that very wild but very rich boy to telephone Angela and ask her to go out again, which she most certainly would not do unless he promised to behave properly, and a brief visit to Mr Marriot, in which he advised her, with real concern, to persuade Harry to invest … nothing could be done.

Nothing. Harry was well away, like a graceful colt over a prairie of spring grass, the faithful Francis and Juan galloping and neighing at his side.

He was hardly ever at home, but when he did pop in, he usually had a box of chocolates or a bunch of carnations for Sophia, and she was always rather afraid of tackling him about anything, because it was so easy to hurt his feelings. She did not mind going for Francis because he could stand up for himself, but she felt that Harry could not.

And he was enjoying the spell of gaiety so much! He liked being out of a job and not having to look for one, planning parties, dashing about in Juan’s car, and kissing Belinha, who seemed to like it, and him. Now that he did not have to pretend enthusiasms, he felt them naturally. He revelled in the unsophisticated and cheerful company he kept, and it would have taken an extremely strong-minded sister to tackle him and pin him to earth and investments.

So, though Sophia was increasingly wretched and worried, she said very little. He and she avoided the topic of the two thousand pounds. It lay between them like Banquo’s ghost but neither would mention it. It was realized by all that this unnatural silence must soon be broken, but the three dreaded the inevitable moment.