The most arduous task that she was compelled to undertake was the communication of Samuel's demise to his family and intimate acquaintances, who were to bear witness to the profound sorrow. The sight of their countenances yielding to tears and heartache provided my sister with the requisite assurance that it would be prudent to pause the matter until such time as both the proprietor and the gallery might restore their former vigour.
In the intervening period, she had collected her belongings, conveyed her heartfelt appreciation to the attendants of the caravan park for their services, and set forth upon the train for her journey home to the verdant Kent countryside.
Upon her return to the estate, I beheld her in a condition of weariness, evidently still cloaked in a guise of shock from the calamitous events that had recently transpired. Yet, she attempted mightily to conceal this when she caught sight of both myself and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is the eldest among our trio. Following her, Mara made her presence, and I, the youngest of the lot, then came to be two years later. Elizabeth's hair, a lovely shade of chestnut curls, invokes envy in any lady possessing hair of a pin-straight nature. Her green eyes that glow in the sunlight, consistently reflect a countenance full with concern and tenderness. Her choices of clothing have perpetually leaned towards flowing dresses during the balmy summer months, whilst in the winter she goes for a charming ensemble of jumper, skirt, and stockings. On this day, she has chosen a delightful summer frock of pink and purple, adorned with a number of blossoms.
It was transparent that she was encountering dismal failure. Having resolved this matter internally, she permitted her sentiment to manifest, enveloping us both in a warm embrace of relief, grateful to have returned safely at last.
"What happened, dear sister?" Elizabeth commenced. "What has induced this state of astonishment?" Mara bored an overwrought expression upon her. "I don't know where to begin on the matter." She set her satchel aside and took her place upon the window sill, where the pane had but recently been bespattered with a considerable deluge of rain.
Elizabeth and I complied. She established herself upon one of the chairs in the drawing-room, whilst I manoeuvred my wheeled chair beside the window sill. I leaned forward, ensuring that all of my attention laid upon her. "Take all the time you require, dear sister. And do enlighten us on the matter whenever you are ready to."
I desired that she, in her own season, articulated the verities of the matter at hand. Yet, my instincts as a writer yearned to grasp the narrative forthwith, that I was able to set pen to paper regarding the affair.
She cast her gaze upon the spectacle outside the window, and caught, from the periphery, the sudden fervour of my expectancy. With a gentle sigh, she diverted her focus towards the both of us. "I am grateful for your forbearance, yet I comprehend your eagerness to be apprised of the unfolding events. Therefore, I shall disclose them forthwith."
My countenance transformed to one of elation, as I set my eyes upon Elizabeth, whose own visage bore the semblance of excitement, though tinged more with the desire to aid her emotionally.
Mara spent twenty minutes imparted the forthcoming events pertaining to her return home. And at this present juncture, it is all that can be deduced from the matter.
Indeed, the very matter you are pursuing at this moment. Yet, I dare say, I can but fervently hope that you are already aware of this information.
She devoted the greater part of her hours to the pursuit of her artistic enterprises. Moreover, seizing every opportunity to resolve other matters within Kent or its vicinity. Yet, she never once resolved to depart from the surrounding locales. The cause remained a mystery, yet I presumed it was a trepidation of missing tidings pertaining to Mr. Henderson and the gallery's future.
Yet, there exists no cause for consternation concerning the other matters. These shall be elucidated to you another time.