Mavis, again at Harold's wish, reluctantly ordered an expensive frock for the dinner. It was of grey taffetas embroidered upon bodice and skirt with black velvet butterflies. The night of the dinner, when Mavis was ready to go, she showed herself to her husband before setting out. He looked at her long and intently before saying:
"I shall always remember you like this."
"What do you mean?" she asked, a little afraid.
"It isn't what I expect. It's what I deserve for marrying a glorious young creature like you."
"Am I discontented?" she asked proudly.
"God bless you. You're as good as you're beautiful," he replied.
As she stooped to kiss him, the prayer of her heart was:
"May he never know why I married him."
His eyes, alight with love, followed her as she left the room.
Major Perigal received his guests in the drawing-room. The first person whom Mavis encountered after she had greeted her host was Windebank. She recalled that she had not seen him since her illness at Mrs Trivett's, He had written to congratulate her on her marriage when she had come to stay with the Devitts; since then, she had not heard from him.