'That's exactly what I'm driving at, Marion. Gladys is an "otherwise." If I deceived Henry, how much easier is it for her to deceive William? No, she shan't marry him. He'd be wretched.'
Marion smiled. 'You surely don't think there's anything like that between them?'
'He's drifting that way if some one doesn't stop him.'
Again Marion smiled. 'I tell you it's impossible. He couldn't have got over his passion for me so quickly.'
'His passion for you,' I echoed. 'My dear, what do you mean?'
Marion then laid down her sewing and began to speak. I listened amazed, unable at first to credit what she was saying, though gradually I began to understand many things which had hitherto been obscure.
'It's wonderful to think of his having loved you secretly all this time,' I marvelled; 'yet why should he take Elizabeth into his confidence rather than myself? And why didn't you tell me all this before—it would have made things so much simpler.'
'At first, not being aware how handsome he could be made, I did not care for him and——'
'Do you mean, then, that you no longer dislike him, Marion?'
'On the contrary, dear, I have begun to regard him with—with feelings of warmth.'