Page:Confidence (London, Macmillan & Co., 1921).djvu/248

 looking at each other as the door closed behind her.

"It certainly would have been better taste in him to tell her," said Bernard, frowning, "and not let other people see how little communication there is between them. It has mortified her."

"Poor Mr. Wright had his reasons," Mrs. Vivian suggested; and then she ventured to explain. "He still cares for Angela, and it was painful to him to talk about her marrying some one else."

This had been Bernard's own reflexion, and it was no more agreeable as Mrs. Vivian presented it; though Angela herself seemed indifferent to it—seemed, indeed, not to hear it, as if she were thinking of something else.

"We must simply marry as soon as possible; tomorrow, if necessary," said Bernard, with some causticity. "That's the best thing we can do for every one. When once Angela is married, Gordon will stop thinking of her. He will never permit his imagination to hover about a married woman; I am very sure of that. He doesn't approve of that sort of thing, and he has the same law for himself as for other people."

"It doesn't matter," said Angela simply.

"How do you mean, my daughter, it doesn't matter?"

"I don't feel obliged to feel so sorry for him now."

"Now? Pray, what has happened? I am more sorry than ever, since I have heard poor Blanche's dreadful tone about him."

The girl was silent a moment; then she shook her head, lightly.

"Her tone—her tone? Dearest mother, don't you see? She is intensely in love with him!" 240