One Third of Adulthood:
Sybil believes in certainty. She believes there are some things you just know, and you shouldn't question them. Sybil also believes in loyalty, but given some of the things she knows without questioning, she doesn't expect others to be loyal to her.
The only person she expects loyalty from is Tom; the only others whom she desires it from are her parents and sisters.
Oh, well. If she hasn't got Robert and Cora, at least she's got Tom. Besides, if she can convince Mary and Edith that her marriage is the right thing, they'll convince Robert and Cora for her.
Two Thirds of Adulthood:
Mary's eyes are cast out the window, but she doesn't see the London streets in front of her. She doesn't see anything at all. Her thoughts are on Matthew, on her mother's pregnancy, on her options.
Mary knows she should accept Matthew's proposal, but she doesn't know if she can. She'd live the rest of her days as Matthew's wife, but she'd spend most of her life the wife of a country solicitor. Not an Earl, not a rich man; not until they're elderly, at least.
Does that matter? To Sybil, no. To Edith, perhaps. To Mary… Alas, it matters.
Three Thirds of Adulthood:
Although awake, Edith's eyes remain closed and her body still. She lies in the centre of her bed. There is as much room to the left of her as there is to the right and as much room between her feet and the bedframe as there is from her head to the headboard.
Edith is always in-between everything. She's not the best at anything, but not the worst.
Or maybe she is the worst. Sybil and Mary are both ever so happy with their husbands and families and work… And Edith lies in her bed alone, feeling sorry for herself.