He knew that
Kitty had suddenly and resolutely ceased to talk about the boy, had
thrown herself with the old energy into new pursuits, and, since she
came to Venice in particular, had shown a feverish desire to fill every
hour with movement and sight-seeing.
But was she, in truth, much better--in body or soul?--poor child! The
doctors had explained her illness as nervous collapse, pointing back to
a long preceding period of overstrain and excitement. There had been
suspicions of tubercular mischief, but no precise test was then at
command; and as Kitty had improved with rest and feeding the idea had
been abandoned. But Ashe was still haunted by it, though quite
ready--being a natural optimist--to escape from it, and all other
incurable anxieties, as soon as Kitty herself should give the signal.
As to the moral difficulties and worries of those months at Haggart,
Ashe remembered them as little as might be. Kitty's illness, indeed, had
shown itself in more directions than one, as an amending and appeasing
fact. Even Lord Parham had been moved to compassion and kindness by the
immediate results of that horrible scene on the terrace.
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