But
when Rowland came, she roused herself sufficiently to say, 'I am ready
to go home now, Rowland: I must go directly.' And then she relapsed into
a state of passive inaction. Rowland went for Mr Wenlock, and was
fortunate in finding him at home. He accompanied him to Netta, and said
that she must be roused by a change of some kind. Rowland said that it
was absolutely necessary to write to summon his brother to fetch Netta,
and that by the time the letter reached home, and Owen reached London,
three days must elapse. Fortunately, Miss Gwynne arrived, and with her
usual promptitude, proposed that Netta should be taken for those three
days to Mrs Jones'; and she returned home at once to expedite any
arrangements Mrs Jones might have to make.
'I am afraid, my dear Serena,' she said, when she had begun the subject,
'that it will put you out. But the poor creature shall have my bedroom,
and I can sleep anywhere for those few nights. The dressing-room,
Gladys' workroom, will do beautifully for her to sit in if she shouldn't
be able to come into the drawing-room.'
'Yes,' said Mrs Jones, 'we can put a sofa in it and easy-chair, and make
a regular snuggery of it.'
Mr Jones came in and entered into consultation.
'I shall be thankful if she can come here,' he said, 'for poor Prothero
is making himself quite ill with anxiety and overwork.
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