Mrs. Matthews hesitated; and Philip waited, hoping for some crumb of comfort, for the smallest encouragement to stay.
The answer came slowly. "I think you ought to go. You see—you see Stella has found out the power of her beauty and her charm, and it's a sort of consolation to her. She'll never get into mischief, not seriously, I mean, with anyone else, and as you and she can't come together again without the risk of a lot of bother and trouble, you'd much better let her alone. You can't blame her if she takes what she can get out of life under the circumstances——"
"I don't," he said shortly. "If she can put the past behind her I can but try to do the same."
"Wise man! Oh! look at this creature making for me; I shall have to go, the dance has begun."
A cowboy had climbed the daïs in pursuit of Mrs. Matthews, and further hope of confidential conversation was blocked. Philip rose and held out his hand.
"Good-bye, then—and thank you for your advice. I will take it. I recognise that you are right."
As they parted he saw sympathy in her bright eyes, and was grudgingly, miserably grateful.