Dora did not answer. She buried her face in the soft pillow, and Ethel
closed the door to the sound of her sobs. But they did not cause her to
return or to make any foolish promises. She divined their insincerity and
their motive, and had no mind to take any part in forwarding the latter.
And Ruth assured her she had acted wisely. "If trouble should ever
come of this friendship," she said, "Dora would very likely complain that
you had always thrown Mostyn in her way, brought him to her house in
New York, and brought her to him at Rawdon, in England. Marriage is
such a risk, Ethel, but to marry without the courage to adapt oneself. AH!"
"You think that condition unspeakably hard?"
"There are no words for it."
"Dora was not reticent, I assure you."
"I am sorry. A wife's complaints are self- inflicted wounds; scattered
seeds, from which only misery can spring. I hope you will not see her
again at this time."
"I made no promise to do so."
"And where all is so uncertain, we had better suppose all is right than
that all is wrong. Even if there was the beginning of wrong, it needs but an
accident to prevent it, and there are so many."
"Accidents!"
"Yes, for accident is God's part in affairs. We call it accident; it would
be better to say an interposition."
"Dora told me Mostyn intended to buy Rawdon Court in September,
and he has even invited the Stanhopes to stay there next summer."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing against it."
"Very good. Do you think Mostyn is in London now?"
"I should not wonder. I am sure Dora is expecting him."
In fact, the next morning they met Dora and Basil Stanhope, driving in
Hyde Park with Mostyn, but the smiling greeting which passed between
the parties did not, except in the case of Basil Stanhope, fairly represent
the dominant feeling of anyone. As for Stanhope, his nature was so clear
and truthful that he would hardly have comprehended a smile which was
intended to veil feelings not to be called either quite friendly or quite |
