She left his side, and went again to the window, where she stood and turned from him, looking out. He waited where he was, glad of the moments of silence. As for her, she was struggling against a generous impulse, because she was afraid that he might misunderstand her if she gave way to it. But, to do her justice, she had never had much strength to resist her own instinctive generosity when it moved her.
'Lady Maud told me long ago that I was mistaken about you,' she said at last, without looking at him. [{157}] 'She was right and I was quite wrong. I'm sorry. Don't bear me any grudge. You won't, will you?'
She turned now, rather suddenly, and found him looking at her with a sort of hunger in his eyes that disappeared almost as soon as hers met them.
'No,' he answered, 'I don't bear you any grudge, I never did, and I don't see how I ever could. I could tell you why, but I won't, because you probably know, and it's no use to repeat what once displeased you.'
'Thank you,' said Margaret, she scarcely knew why.
Her handsome head was a little bent, and her eyes were turned to the floor as she passed him going to the door.
'I'm going to see the manager of the hotel,' she said. I'll be back directly.'
'No, no! Please let me——'
But she was gone, the door was shut again, and Mr. Van Torp was left to his own very happy reflections for a while.
Not for long, however. He was still standing before the table staring at the corn-flowers and poppies without consciously seeing them when he was aware of the imposing presence of Mrs. Rushmore, who had entered softly during his reverie and was almost at his elbow.