Part 18 (1/2)

”I don't know--perhaps shame.”

”Shame--tras.h.!.+ Your life is going to be a fine turmoil if you run to Teddy with an account of every little mild flirtation you happen to have. Of all the imbeciles, the most imbecile is the woman who confesses.”

”But how could I marry him when----”

”When you don't love him?”

”No--I might have done that. I like him. But, when I love another man.”

”It does make a difference. But you ought to be able to foresee that you'll get over Howard in a few weeks----”

”Precisely what Teddy said.”

”Did he? I'm surprised at his having so much sense. For, if you'll forgive me, I don't think Teddy will ever set New York on fire--at least, he's--well, he has the makings of an ideal husband. And has he broken it off?”

”No. He wouldn't have it.”

”Really? Well he _is_ in love. Most men in his position--able to get any girl he wants--would have thrown up the whole business. Yes, he must be awfully in love.”

”Do you think that?” Marian's voice spoke distress but she felt only satisfaction. ”Oh, I hope not--that is, I'd like to think he cared a great deal and at the same time I don't want to hurt him.”

”Don't fret yourself about these two men. Just go on thinking as you please. You'll be surprised how soon Howard will fade.” Mrs. Carnarvon smiled satirically at some thought--perhaps a memory. ”You're a good deal of a goose, my dear, but you are a great deal more of a woman.

That's why I feel sure that Teddy will win.”

With such an opportunity--with the field clear and the woman half-remorseful over her treachery, half-indignant at the man who had shown himself so weak and spiritless--a cleverer or a less vain man than Danvers would have triumphed easily. And for the first week he did make progress. He acted upon the theory that Marian had been hypnotized and that the proper treatment was to ignore her delusion and to treat her with a.s.siduous but not annoying consideration. He did not pose as an injured or jealous lover. He was the friend, always at her service, always thinking out plans for her amus.e.m.e.nt. He made no reference to their engagement or to Howard.

Several people of their set were at the hotel and Marian was soon drifting back into her accustomed modes of thought. The wider horizon which she fancied Howard had shown her was growing dim and hazy. The horizon which he had made her think narrow was beginning again to seem the only one. This meant Danvers; but he was not acute enough to understand her and to follow up his advantage.

One morning as he was walking up and down under the palms, waiting for Mrs. Carnarvon and Marian, Mrs. Fortescue called him. She was a cold, rather handsome woman. In her eyes was the expression that always betrays the wife or the mistress who loathes the man she lives with, enduring him only because he gives her that which she most wants--money.

She had one fixed idea--to marry her daughter ”well,” that is, to money.

”Can you join us to-day, Teddy?” she asked. ”We need one more man.”

”I'm waiting for Mrs. Carnarvon and Marian,” he explained.

”Oh, of course.” Mrs. Fortescue smiled. ”What a nice girl she is--so clever, so--so independent. I admired her immensely for deciding to marry that poor, obscure young fellow. I like to see the young people romantic.”

Danvers flushed angrily and pulled at his mustache. He tried to smile.

”We've teased her about it a good deal,” he said, ”but she denies it.”

”I suppose they aren't ready to announce the engagement yet,” Mrs.

Fortescue suggested. ”I suppose they are waiting until he betters his position a little. It's never a good idea to have too long a time between the announcement and the marriage.”

”Perhaps that is it.” Danvers tried to look indifferent but his eyes were sullen with jealousy.

”I always rather thought that you and Marian were going to make a match of it,” continued Mrs. Fortescue. Just then her daughter came down the walk. She was fas.h.i.+onably dressed in white and blue that brought out all the loveliness of her golden hair and violet eyes and faintly-coloured, smooth fair skin. Danvers had not seen her since she ”came out,” and was dazzled by her radiance.

They say that every man must be a little in love with every pretty woman he sees. And Danvers at once gave Ellen Fortescue her due. She sat silent beside her mother, looking the personification of innocence, purity and poetry. Her mother continued subtly to poison Danvers against Marian, to make him feel that she had not appreciated him, that she had trifled with him, that she had not treated him as his dignity and importance merited. When she and Mrs. Carnarvon appeared, he joined them tardily, after having made an arrangement with the Fortescues for the next day.

That evening he danced several times with Ellen Fortescue and adopted the familiar lover's tactics--he set about making Marian jealous. He scored the customary success. When she went to bed she lay for several hours looking out into the moonlight, raging against the Fortescues and against Danvers. The mere fact that a man whom she regarded as hers was permitting himself to show marked attention to another woman would have been sufficient. But in addition, Marian was perfectly aware of the material advantages of this particular man. She did not want to marry him; at least she was of that mind at the moment. But she might change her mind. Certainly, if there was to be any breaking off, she wished it to be of her doing. She did not fancy the idea of him departing joyfully.