She turned, and went
quickly out, hiding her lips with the little bunch of violets.
June ran to the door. She heard the footsteps going down and down. She
called out: "Come back, Irene! Come back!"
The footsteps died away....
Bewildered and torn, the girl stood at the top of the stairs. Why had
Irene gone, leaving her mistress of the field? What did it mean? Had
she really given him up to her? Or had she...? And she was the prey of a
gnawing uncertainty.... Bosinney did not come....
About six o'clock that afternoon old Jolyon returned from Wistaria
Avenue, where now almost every day he spent some hours, and asked if his
grand-daughter were upstairs. On being told that she had just come in,
he sent up to her room to request her to come down and speak to him.
He had made up his mind to tell her that he was reconciled with her
father. In future bygones must be bygones. He would no longer live
alone, or practically alone, in this great house; he was going to give
it up, and take one in the country for his son, where they could all
go and live together. If June did not like this, she could have an
allowance and live by herself. It wouldn't make much difference to her,
for it was a long time since she had shown him any affection.
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