"I noticed the other day your ingenuity in revenging yourself."
"I say nothing but the simple truth. Had you rather I went out and enjoyed myself without any reference to your wishes?"
"From the first you made up your mind to misunderstand me," said Reuben, with the common evasion of one who cannot defend his course.
Cecily brought the dispute to an end by her silence. The next morning Reuben went to see Mrs. Lessingham, and heard what she had to say about Mrs. Travis.
"What is your evidence against her?" she inquired, after a little banter.
"Some one who knows Travis very well assured me that the fault was not all on his side."
"Of course. It is more to the point to hear what those have to say who know his wife, Surely you acted with extraordinary haste."
With characteristic weakness, Elgar defended himself by detailing the course of events. It was not he who had been precipitate, but Cecily; he was never more annoyed than when he heard of that foolish letter.
"Go home and persuade her to write another," said Mrs. Lessingham. "Let her confess that there was a misunderstanding. I am sure Mrs. Travis will accept it. She has a curious character; very sensitive, and very impulsive, but essentially trustful and warm-hearted. You should have heard the pathetic surprise with which she told me of Cecily's letter."
"I should rather have imagined her speaking contemptuously."