“Yes, she will, if——”
He was about to say if she is not influenced, but not wishing to hold up before June her mother’s weak traits, he said:
“If she can.”
He knew Mrs. Wilmer’s failing as well as though he had been a man of years.
CHAPTER XII.
A CLOUD.
Two years had gone by since Scott’s marriage, when one evening he entered his wife’s room and found her standing before the mirror putting the finishing touches to her rich and becoming toilet. Scott’s brain was weary, for he had been studying all day over a very perplexing case which he had set out to win, and with very little foundation to work on. He threw himself on the soft velvet cushions of the crimson sofa, placing his hand over his brow, as if to still the throbbing of his temples. Irene, dressed in a pale pink satin, with sweeping train and airy lace overdress looped up with moss rosebuds, with diamond set necklace and bracelets, and the tip of her satin slipper just in view, presented a very pretty picture to Scott, but he was somewhat surprised that she did not speak, or even smile.
“Are you going out?” he asked.
“Oh, Scott! I almost forgot that you were here.”