Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/258

 Worry began for Edward with the return of the Ruggles family to Paris. He received a note from Alice begging him to call, and he said nothing about this note to Anne, and he called at the first opportunity. His motives in denying Anne his confidence were excellent. She had upon a previous occasion proved herself utterly unworthy of it, and he believed in peace even at the price of deception.

In the course of two weeks he saw Alice exactly five times. At those meetings nothing was said or done or thought which need have troubled Anne in the least. The barrier which Alice had erected between herself and Edward was still in place. They were old friends and no more. Still, Edward deceived Anne as carefully and elaborately as if he had been carrying on a base intrigue and his conscience did not trouble him. When a woman who has no grounds for being jealous persists in being jealous, she does not invite honesty or candor. Edward knew that if Anne knew that the Ruggles were in Paris and that he was seeing them, there would be a terrible row, and he could not believe that such a row would be of any particular benefit to anybody and therefore did his very best to avoid it.

Of course he could have seen Alice just once, and he could have told her why he ought not to