“Ah!” said the Major. Then he added, “But I must bid you good morning.”
“I shall be very glad to have you come to see me,” said Pandora.
“I assure you it will give me much pleasure to do so,” answered the Major, with a feeling of exultation.
Then he bowed politely, and withdrew.
When Pandora reached home, she showed Major Dunwoody’s card to her mother, and told her of the adventure at the Museum.
Mrs. M’Duffy sat upon the sofa and listened. She was a woman of distinguished appearance; of large frame, not corpulent, but rounded rather more than positive beauty seemed to require. Having the carriage of a queen, with a finely-shaped head, a strongly-defined chin, held well up, an aquiline nose, and piercing black eyes, Mrs. M’Duffy impressed the observer with a sense of power. The mother of the Gracchi might have been such a woman. If Mrs. M’Duffy had been born to a throne, she would have left her impress distinctly upon the history of nations.
Mrs. M’Duffy was familiar with the world. She was a woman who quickly comprehended possibilities. She clearly foresaw that Major Dunwoody might have an influence upon the future of Pandora, and the prospect was not pleasing to her.
“Pandora,” she said, “I trust you did not ask this man to call?”
“Yes, I did, mother.”
“I am sorry to hear it. I never liked his branch of the Dunwoodys. His father was mixed up with some very suspicious land speculations, and he died insolvent. Major Dunwoody has nothing but his pay. You must treat him with coolness when he comes.”