conceal her excitement. 'We must put some flowers there. I think I'll
just go upstairs and see if there's any little improvement we could
make.'

They all went upstairs and stood in that room devoted to the memory of
the scapegrace, but they made no alterations, Sophia expressing the
belief that Henrietta would prefer it as it was; and Caroline, as she
wiped away two slow tears, saying that Reginald was a wretch and she
could not see why they should put themselves to any trouble for his
daughter.



Book II: _Henrietta_


1

After luncheon Henrietta went to her room to unpack the brown tin
trunk which contained all her possessions, and as she ascended the
stairs with her hand on the polished mahogany rail, she heard Sophia
saying, 'She's a true Mallett. She has the Mallett ankle. Did you
notice it, Caroline?' And Caroline answered harshly, 'Yes, the Mallett
ankle, but not the foot. Her foot is square, like a block of wood.
What could you expect?' Then the drawing-room door was closed softly
on this indiscretion.

Henrietta continued steadily up the stairs and across the landing to
her father's room, and before the long mirror on the wall she halted
to survey her reflected feet. Aunt Caroline had but exaggerated the