But poor Betty was no
self-deceiver--she was well aware that what was wanted at Old Place in
the difficult months, aye, and even years, which would follow the end of
the Great War, was personal service.
And so she had come home, making no favour of it, settling into her often
tiring and tiresome duties, trying now and again to make Rosamund and
Dolly do their share. In a way they did try, but they were both very
selfish in their different ways, and only Janet knew all that everyone
of them owed to Betty's hard, continuous work, and sense of order. Not
that the girl was perfect by any means; now and again she would say a
very sharp, sarcastic word, but on the whole she was wonderfully
indulgent, kindly and understanding--more like a mother than a sister
to the others.
Everyday life is a mosaic of infinitely little things, whatever those who
write and talk may say. Betty had come back and settled down to life at
home, mainly because her step-mother could no longer "carry on." Janet
could not get servants, and if she could have got them, she could not now
have paid them. Then there had been the silly, vulgar but highly
dangerous affair between Rosamund and their too attractive married
"billet".
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