Mrs. Rice did not tell that remark to the servants, or there would have been no end of gossip among them.
"There is some great mystery between Eugene Mallard and his bride," she said to herself. "I will not attempt to probe into the mystery, but I will endeavor to bring them together, if it lies within human power."
The fortnight that followed, the old mansion was fairly alive with guests coming and going.
Eugene Mallard could not help but admire Ida for bearing up so bravely under the terrible ordeal. During that fortnight a strange thing happened—the cruelest blow that Heaven could have dealt Ida. The lovely girl had learned to love Eugene Mallard with all the strength of her nature. She was in love with him, and he was cold and indifferent.
Another fortnight passed, and yet another. Everything at the great mansion passed pleasantly enough to the outside world. But the young girls for miles around who envied the young bride never dreamed of the skeleton that existed in that magnificent mansion.
Eugene Mallard was all that was kind and considerate. It seemed a necessity to him to have the house full of company. He was never alone with Ida. How gayly he talked to his guests! Looking at him, Ida said to herself:
"If he would but smile so when he speaks to me! His eyes are always cold; no warmth or brightness ever comes into them for me."
Although Eugene Mallard appeared so bright and gay before his guests; yet, unknown to any one, his heart was filled with the bitterness of death. It did not seem possible for him to live through the hours day after day. He felt thankful to Heaven that no one guessed that he had brought home a different bride from what he had intended. He dashed recklessly from one gayety to another, his object being to try to forget Hildegarde, his love. He never voluntarily looked at the girl he had married.
At the end of six weeks most of the guests returned to their homes, and Eugene Mallard suddenly found himself alone with his young wife and the servants.
"I must not let this happen again," he said. "To live here alone requires more strength than I am possessed of."