Dora thought for a moment.
"Was Mr. Edermont handsome when you knew him first?"
"He was passable, Miss Carew--a little, womanish man. Even in his youth his hair was white--the effect of nerves, I believe. He was always nervous, poor soul!"
"He had reason to be, evidently."
"Yes," said Mrs. Tice sharply, "good reason. I never liked him, but I was sorry for him."
Determined to know the exact truth, Dora put her question plainly:
"Were you in love with him?"
"What!" said Mrs. Tice, laughing, "with that rat of a man? No, my dear: I had better taste."
This was conclusive, and Dora was satisfied that, whoever had played the part of heroine in her guardian's romance, it was not Mrs. Tice.