This note he also put into the envelope, which he made ready for posting. Then he sat for a long time in profound thought.
Shortly after eleven his door opened, and Maud came in. She had been dining at Mrs Lane’s. Her attire was still simple, but of quality which would have signified recklessness, but for the outlook whereof Jasper spoke to Whelpdale. The girl looked very beautiful. There was a flush of health and happiness on her cheek, and when she spoke it was in a voice that rang quite differently from her tones of a year ago; the pride which was natural to her had now a firm support; she moved and uttered herself in queenly fashion.
‘Has anyone been?’ she asked.
‘Whelpdale.’
‘Oh! I wanted to ask you, Jasper: do you think it wise to let him come quite so often?’
‘There’s a difficulty, you see. I can hardly tell him to sheer off. And he’s really a decent fellow.’
‘That may be. But—I think it’s rather unwise. Things are changed. In a few months, Dora will be a good deal at my house, and will see all sorts of people.’
‘Yes; but what if they are the kind of people she doesn’t care anything about? You must remember, old girl, that her tastes are quite different from yours. I say nothing, but—perhaps it’s as well they should be.’
‘You say nothing, but you add an insult,’ returned Maud, with a smile of superb disregard. ‘We won’t reopen the question.’
‘Oh dear no! And, by-the-by, I have a letter from Dolomore. It came just after you left.’