This apparent mutual misunderstanding puzzled her a good deal. Captain Desfrayne’s reserved manner with his beautiful young charge perplexed her extremely. That he should not endeavor to improve his opportunity of obtaining favor with the young girl seemed inexplicable; and when she found that both were evidently resolved on steadfastly declining to pass the ice-bound line that divided them, she marveled more and more.
“There is some undercurrent here which I do not understand,” she thought. “It seems strange, but there is certainly some ill-will between them. What can the matter be?”
Had not Lois been her constant companion for the last four years, during which time the young girl had been completely ignorant of Paul Desfrayne’s existence, Lady Quaintree might have imagined, with Blanche Dormer, that there was a lovers’ quarrel.
After cudgeling her brains for an explanation of this mystery, a possible solution presented itself. Lady Quaintree knew family pride to be one of Mrs. Desfrayne’s weak points, and perhaps this peculiarity might be magnified in her son. Remembering that if the refusal to obey the old man’s whim came from his side, it would involve on his part a heavy pecuniary loss, she concluded that he wished to induce Miss Turquand to think him a very undesirable lover, and thus to cause the refusal to come from her.
This view having presented itself, her ladyship wavered in the resolution of at once quitting Flore Hall. If Captain Desfrayne was determined not to profit by his advantageous position, but to drive Miss Turquand to refuse him, would he not be an eligible ally?
Many a girl, she knew, slighted by one, eagerly if hastily accepted the next that offered.
Yet, until she could ascertain why Paul Desfrayne did not relish the bride proposed to him, she might be playing a dangerous game in allowing him to be too near her lovely protégée.
Lady Quaintree felt thoroughly perplexed and unsettled, in fact, and could only arrive finally at the conclusion that the wisest plan would be to let herself be guided by a cautious observation of the course of events.
“I wish we could have brought Gerald down with us,” she sighed. “However, the way must be clearer in a few days.”
At Lois’ earnest entreaty, Lady Quaintree had taken all but the actual name of mistress in the house. She sat at the head of the table, and played the role of hostess. Owing to her consummate tact, the dinner did not pass so drearily as it might otherwise have done.