Lily wondered what other people were doing. They must have made some arrangement. If the wreath was fetched out now, who would hold it during the dedication? They mustn’t stand still either, or they would be left behind by the people on their way down to the Cross. On the impulse, Lily explained to Mr. Ramsbotham. He was unexpectedly helpful. He would go round with Kent and see about it at once; and then he would bring it to them, ready to be laid on the Cross. Lily thanked him with her eyes. Mr. Hardwick, not dashed by his earlier snub, appeared ready to give Papa his arm. People were very kind. Lily, emotional after the singing, felt a rush of kindness towards everybody, including Mary and Anne. In order to say something to her sister-in-law, for the pleasure of speaking to her, she asked where Maurice was.

“He couldn’t come,” said Mary.

Lily said “Oh,” and smiled; for no particular reason, except that she wanted to show Mary that she was feeling quite differently towards her today. Perhaps they might see more of each other, Lily thought, impulsively. But Mary was so difficult to understand. She smiled too. But her smile was somehow baffling. To Lily she seemed always to be keeping her distance, rather ironically.

And there was Edward Blake. Well, of course, it was to be expected that he’d be there. Richard’s great friend. And now Mary’s friend. Lily had tried so hard, in the old days, to like him—for everything in any way connected with Richard must be likeable and nice—but she’d failed. Perhaps she’d just been jealous. That was natural. For he’d known Richard years and years longer than she had. Well, I needn’t be jealous now, Lily thought. And he looked so tired and ill—no wonder, after the terrible things he’d been through in the War. After his flying accident, when for months, she’d heard, he’d been quite insane. Even now he’d a strange way of looking at you that was sometimes a little frightening. Lily felt glad that she hadn’t to entertain him at the Hall. But poor Edward Blake, she told herself, forcing down her dislike of his presence, how terribly he must have suffered.