"Of course. It happens every day,—because men are so stupid, but at the same time so necessary. But what did she say of me I Was she angel on my side of the house as well as yours?"
"Of course she was angry."
"It did not occur to her that she had been the interloper, and had taken you away from me?"
"That was not so. You had married."
"Psha! Married! Of course I had married. Everybody marries. You had married; but I did not suppose that for that reason you would forget me altogether. People must marry as circumstances suit. It is no good going back to that old story. Why did you not come to me sooner, and tell me of this tragedy? Why did you leave me to run after her and write to her?"
"I have been very unhappy."
"So you ought to be. But things are never so bad in the wearing as in the anticipation. I don't suppose she'll go about destroying my name and doing me a mischief?"
"Never."
"Because if she did, you know, I could retaliate."
"What do you mean by that, Mrs. Houghton?"