"Do you believe," Mrs. Wade asked, "that Northway really discovered
you by chance?"
"I don't know. He says so. I can only feel absolutely sure that Mr.
Glazzard has nothing to do with it."
Mrs. Wade mused doubtfully.
"Absolutely sure?"
"Oh, how is it possible? If you knew him as well as we do!--
Impossible!--He came to see us this very morning, on his way to be
married, and laughed and talked!"
"You are right, no doubt," returned the other, with quiet
reassurance. "If it wasn't chance, some obscure agency has been at
work. You must remember, Lily, that only by a miracle could you have
lived on in security."
"I have sometimes felt that," whispered the sufferer, her head
falling.
"And it almost seems," went on Mrs. Wade, "as if Northway really had
no intention of using his power to extort money. To be Sure, your
own income is not to be despised by a man in his position; but most
rascals would have gone to Mr. Quarrier.--He is still in love with
you, I suppose."
The last words were murmured in a tone which caused the hearer to
look up uneasily. Mrs. Wade at once averted her face, which was
curiously hard and expressionless.
"What do you think?" she said a moment after. "Would it be any use
if I had a talk with him?"
"Will you?" asked Lilian, eagerly. "You may perhaps influence him.
You can speak so well--so persuasively.
Pages:
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277