‘It is not a delusion,’ replied Mr. Clausen warmly. ‘Experience teaches us through our own agony to sympathise with others. When they have passed through a like experience, we can help to heal their wounds; but we cannot prevent them fighting out the battle for themselves.’ He stopped suddenly, walked to the window, looked out, and said in a lighter tone to Geraldine, ‘And how are all your sisters?’ ‘They are very well. Mary has just taken the new baby into the country, where her husband joins her as soon as the session is over. Emily is still working in the East End; she lectures at Toynbee Hall on Temperance next Friday. Gladys writes from the Embassy at Vienna that her life is wasted in writing official notes; and Maisy and her husband seem to have disappeared altogether ever since they were married; they were most ridiculously attached to each other, as no doubt you remember. All the while they were engaged, I was afraid of stirring about the house, and got into a habit of humming, coughing, and rattling door handles, which I have not overcome yet.’ ‘And where were they when you last heard of them?’ ‘Well, they remained in Egypt on their honeymoon, until it became too hot to hold them, and now they’ve taken refuge in a yacht.’ ‘Dear! dear! dear! who would have thought so much romance was left in the world? How long have they been married?’ ‘Six months.’ ‘The other day I heard it said that the first six months of married life were the most miserable in a woman’s existence. Maisy would not agree with that.’ ‘I suppose not; they utterly refused to return to London for the season, although mamma begged Maisy to come and take me about. Poor mamma, how tired you must be of chaperoning us!’ ‘No, I am not. As age comes over one, one begins to take an interest in details quite incomprehensible to the young.’ The door opened, and the footman announced in a loud voice, ‘Mr. Potter and Lady Maisy Potter.’ ‘Mamma!’ ‘Maisy!’ ‘Robert! Where have you come from?’ ‘Landed at Portsmouth this morning. Thought we would take you by surprise.’ The reunited family settled itself into groups, more tea was ordered, and confidences exchanged. Maisy, pert, pretty, and blooming with health, sat between her mother and sister on the sofa. Mr. Clausen and Robert foregathered at the other end of the room. Geraldine said, ‘Last time you wrote, you said nothing would induce you to return to England yet.’ ‘That was all poor dear Robert; he begged and prayed me to stay out there with him, until I really had to threaten him.’ ‘My dear Maisy!’ ‘Yes, mamma, I positively had to threaten him that, if he persisted in staying I should come home alone.’ ‘And that brought him round at once, of course,’ said Geraldine. ‘Oh yes, he can’t bear me to be out of his sight for a moment. People tell me his devotion positively makes him ridiculous.’ ‘You don’t mind that, I suppose.’