to Paris in the spring; she would spend next summer in Barbizon; she
was determined to allow nothing to interfere with her education; but,
for the moment, she felt that she must go back to Sutton. Every day
her craving for England grew more intolerable. She craved for England,
for her home, for its food, for its associations. She longed for her
own room, for her garden, for the trap. She wanted to see all the
girls, to hear what they thought of her absence. She wanted to see
Harold.

At first his letters had irritated her, she had said that he wanted
her to look after his house; she had argued that a man never hesitates
to put aside a woman's education, if it suits his convenience. But now
it seemed to her that it would be unkind to leave Harold alone any
longer. It was manifestly her duty to go home, to spend Christmas with
him. She was only going to Sutton for a while. She loved France, and
would certainly return. She knew now what Paris was like, and when she
returned it would be alone, or in different company. Mrs. Fargus was
very well, but she could not go on living with her for ever. She would
come in useful another time. But, for the moment, she could not go on
living with her, she had become a sort of Old Man of the Sea, and the
only way to rid herself of her was by returning to England.

An imperative instinct was drawing her back to England, but another
instinct equally strong said: 'As soon as I am rested, nothing shall
prevent me from returning to Paris.'




X.