“Well,” he hazarded, “it was, perhaps, not the only one.”
“No,” confessed Violet very softly, “there was another thing which influenced me rather more.”
Nasmyth, who understood her, stood silent a moment or two, with one hand tightly closed. “In that case there is nothing to be said, and I must try to face it gracefully,” he told her. “Reproaches are not exactly becoming in the case of a discarded man.” He took off his wide hat as he held out his hand. “Miss Hamilton, the thing naturally hurts me, but perhaps I cannot reasonably blame you. I’m not sure you could expect me to go any further now.”
“Ah!” exclaimed Violet, “you have made it easy. I would like to assure you of my good-will.”
He held her hand a moment and swung abruptly away. He met Mrs. Acton as he went down a corridor. He 317 stopped in front of her, and she looked at him questioningly when she saw his face.
“I have not come up to expectations. It is, perhaps, fortunate Miss Hamilton found it out when she did,” he said.
“Oh!” Mrs. Acton replied, “I told you it would not be well to stay away very long.”
“I scarcely think the result would have been different in any case,” Nasmyth declared.
Mrs. Acton was silent for a moment. Then she looked at him sharply.
“Where are you going now?” she asked.