“What a very extraordinary thing it has been that both Mary and Percy have been suspicious and jealous of Nigel and myself, while there’s been absolutely nothing in it!”
“But they both felt by instinct, perhaps, that that was no fault of his,” returned Madeline.
“I have no sympathy with him,” said Bertha, who seemed for her quite hard. “If he does like me, all the more he ought to have kept away. Besides, it’s only because he wants to be amused! What right has he to make his wife unhappy, when he deliberately chose her, and to be willing—if he is willing—to smash up my happiness with Percy?”
“Of course that’s horrid of him,” said Madeline; “but somehow I do think his wife is rather awful; I think she might do anything. But won’t you answer his letter?”
“Yes; I think I’d better write him a line,” said Bertha.
She sat down and wrote:
“Dear Mr. Hillier,—Pray don’t think again of the unpleasant little incident.
“I have already forgotten it.
“I think that if you will make your children the interest of your life—though it’s very impertinent of me to say so—happiness must come of it.
“Good-bye. Yours very sincerely,