At night when Margaret realised this, she felt inclined to sit down in a stupor of despair. The heavy smoky air hung about her bedroom, which occupied the long narrow projection at the back of the house. The window, placed at the side of the oblong, looked at the blank wall of a similar projection, not above ten feet distant. It loomed through the fog like a great barrier to hope. Inside the room everything was in confusion. All their efforts had been directed to make her mother's room comfortable. Margaret sat down on a box, the direction card upon which struck her as having been written at Helstone--beautiful, beloved Helstone! She lost herself in dismal thought: but at last she determined to take her mind away from the present; and suddenly remembered that she had a letter from Edith which she had only half read in the bustle of the morning. It was to tell of their arrival at Corfu; their voyage along the Mediterranean--their music, and dancing on board ship; the gay new life opening upon her; her house with its trellised balcony, and its views over white cliffs and deep blue sea.

At night, Margaret felt inclined to sit down in a stupor of despair. The heavy smoky air hung about her bedroom, which occupied a long narrow projection at the back of the house. The window looked onto the blank wall of a similar projection, only ten feet distant. It loomed through the fog like a great barrier to hope.
Inside the room everything was in confusion. All their efforts had been directed to make her mother's room comfortable. Margaret sat down on a box which had been labelled at Helstone - beautiful Helstone! She lost herself in dismal thought: but at last she remembered that she had a letter from Edith which she had only half read in the bustle.
It told of their arrival at Corfu; their voyage along the Mediterranean - the music and dancing on board ship; her gay new life; her house with its trellised balcony, and its views over white cliffs and deep blue sea. 