She was excessively annoyed with
herself for still caring, but the roots were too deep, and there had been
nothing in her life during the past three years to diminish her fierce
sense of democracy as she interpreted it.
Alexina had never given a thought to her sister-in-law's psychology,
although the sensitive plates of her brain received an impression now and
again of a violent inner life behind that business-like exterior. But she
had seen little of her until lately, and during the past six weeks her mind
had been too concentrated upon her mother's sufferings and possible danger
to have any disposition for analysis.
She certainly did not feel the least need of her now. She wished, indeed,
that she had asked Aileen to remain in the house last night. Aileen was
her own age, they had been intimate since childhood, often without the
slightest regard for each other's feelings, and was more like a sister than
even dear Sally and Maria.
Suddenly she determined to go to her. She had her own latch key and would
disturb no one but Aileen. She dressed herself warmly and slipped down
stairs and out of the house.
CHAPTER II
I
The city below--the new solid city--was obliterated under a heavy fog,
pierced here and there by steeples and towers that looked like jagged dark
rocks in that white and tranquil sea.
On Angel Island and on the north shore of the bay the deep sad bells were
tolling their warning to moving craft; and from out at sea, beyond the
Golden Gate, the fog horn sent forth its long lugubrious groans.
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