Although the veranda was in the shadow, the hot sun was on the woods and Helen smelt the pines. She liked the resinous scent and her rocking-chair was easy, but she put down her book and frowned. Sometimes it was lonely at Shadow Lake, and so long as the light was good Bob was not much about. For example, although she had got up at seven o’clock he was gone and he had not come back for lunch. In fact, Helen doubted if he would return for supper.
At the beginning, when Bob was her lover, she had tried to let herself go, but the effort was hard and she thought Bob knew. When she not long since married him she could not conquer her reserve and Bob did not try. Helen did not know if he were hurt, for sometimes Bob was rather inscrutable. He played up and indulged her. In fact, Helen admitted
