"Why should not I be? You have brought me wealth and fortune, title and honor—all that my soul loves best. Why should I not be content?"
She had finished her musing now, and it had brought her to two conclusions: she must leave Lord Vivianne at once, and in silence, while she must at the same time, at any price, keep her secret from Earle.
Another and very probable idea occurred to her. It was this: by Earle being sent to fetch her, it was very evident that her parents approved of him, and that she would have to marry him. Looking at him, she thought it was not such a bad alternative, after all. He was handsomer, younger, stronger than Lord Vivianne; besides, what little affection she had had to give had always been his. Then she arose from her seat with a smile.
"I have finished thinking, Earle. To make matters square, I promise myself that I will not think again for ever so many months."
"What is the result of your deliberation?" he said.
"I wish you would be a little kinder to me, Earle. You speak so gravely, you look so coldly, that you make me quite unhappy."
His face flushed slightly and his lips trembled.
"I do not wish to seem unkind, Doris, but let me ask you—what else besides coldness and gravity can you expect from me?"
"You know I always liked you, Earle."
"I know you betrayed and deceived me about as basely as it is possible to deceive any one. But we need not discuss that now."