She knew perfectly well what she was going to do. She was not going to

make a fuss; that would do more harm than good. She had simply to mention

the facts in a casual way, without mentioning Sir Peter. As for the

separation, that was not to be taken seriously for a moment.

She began carelessly. "I heard from Molly this morning."

"Indeed? Good news, I hope?"

"Very good news. Except that she's disappointed me. She's not coming to

Thorneytoft after all."

"I didn't know she was expected."

"Well, I wanted her to run down and entertain me a little, now that she

can get away."

"It would be rather a sacrifice for her to leave town just at the

beginning of the season."

"That's it. She has such hosts of engagements--always going out

somewhere. She tells me she thinks nothing of five theatres in one week."

Miss Batchelor raised her eyebrows.

"She must be very much stronger than she was at Thorneytoft."

"She's never been so well in her life. Thorneytoft didn't agree with her

at all. She's been a different woman since they left it." (This to guard

against any suspicion of an attraction in the neighborhood.) "Nevill was

never well there either."

"I never thought it would suit Mr. Tyson."

"No; it wasn't the life for him at all. He's got too much go in him to

settle down anywhere in the country. Look how he's roamed about the

world." (Now was her opportunity.) "You know, Miss Batchelor, there's

a great deal of nonsense talked about this separation."

"There's a great deal of nonsense talked about most things in this

place."

"Well--but really, if you think of it, what is there to talk about? He's

just gone away in a huff, and--and he'll come back in another. You'll

see. He has a very peculiar temper, has Nevill; and Molly's too--too

suscept--too emotional. People can't always hit it off together."

"No--"

"No. And I think it's a very good plan to separate for a time. For a

time, of course. It's her own wish."

(Oh, Mrs. Wilcox! But strict accuracy is an abject virtue when pride and

the honor of a family are at stake.) "That's all very well, my dear Mrs. Wilcox, but in the meanwhile people

will talk."

"That won't break Molly's heart. She'd snap her fingers at them. And

the more they talk, the more she'll go her own way. That's Molly all

over. You can't turn her by talking, but she'd go through fire and

water for any one she loves."

Poor vulgar, silly Mrs. Wilcox! But try her on the subject of her

daughter, and she rang true.

Miss Batchelor smiled. She didn't know about going through fire; but Mrs.

Nevill had certainly been playing with the element, and got her fingers

badly scorched too.




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