That thought which at times gives trouble to all
women of strong emotions was working in her: had she been too
demonstrative, and made her love too cheap? Now that Jasper's
love might be endangered, it behoved her to use any arts which
nature prompted. And so, for once, he was not wholly satisfied
with her, and at their parting he wondered what subtle change had
affected her manner to him.
'Why didn't Marian come to speak a word?' said Dora, when her
brother entered the girls' sitting-room about ten o'clock.
'You knew she was with me, then?'
'We heard her voice as she was going away.'
'She brought me some enspiriting news, and thought it better I
should have the reporting of it to you.'
With brevity he made known what had befallen.
'Cheerful, isn't it? The kind of thing that strengthens one's
trust in Providence.'
The girls were appalled. Maud, who was reading by the fireside,
let her book fall to her lap, and knit her brows darkly.
'Then your marriage must be put off, of course?' said Dora.
'Well, I shouldn't be surprised if that were found necessary,'
replied her brother caustically.
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