While Harding was looking for Hester, Mrs. Mowbray came up to him.
"You must stay with the others for our supper and dance," she said. "I have made your sister promise. I think we can sink all differences to-night."
Harding smiled.
"I can't refuse. Somehow I feel that the differences aren't so great as I once supposed."
"Perhaps that's true," Mrs. Mowbray answered thoughtfully. "Though I dare say you and my husband must disagree about the means you use, you have, after all, a good deal in common. One's object is the most important thing."
She left him as Kenwyne came up, and went to speak to one of her neighbors.
Mowbray had called Beatrice into his study.
"Count this for me," he said, giving her a brass tray filled with paper currency and silver coin. "I promised I'd send it to the bank, and I may as well make out the form before I lock the money up."
He went away to get a pen, and on coming back he looked surprised when Beatrice told him the amount.
"There must be a mistake," he said. "We have never collected so much before."