The first thing he did was to buy Mrs. Talbot a new bonnet, since he had heard that a woman will be pleased over a new bonnet, if over nothing else. The lady, however, received the gift rather coldly.
"It is very nice," she said. "But I do not need it, James."
"Never mind, my love, I want my wife to look as good as or better than any lady in Granville."
"Thank you, but I never tried to set the fashion."
"I know that. But you should—with so much money behind you."
"The money is for Robert, not for me." And Mrs. Talbot sighed as she thought of her son, and wondered how he was faring.
"Always the boy," thought James Talbot savagely. "Will she never forget him?"
"There is going to be a play at the opera house to-night," he said sweetly. "I would like you to go. You can wear the new bonnet, if you will."
"Thank you. What is the play, James?"