“Why shouldn’t she?” asked Frederic, giving to Marian a smile which sent the hot blood tingling to her finger tips.
“‘Why shouldn’t she!’” returned Isabel—“just as though we, girls, ever think of married men. By the way, have you heard anything definite from Mrs. Raymond, since she left you so suddenly in New York, or have you given up the search?”
Marian pitied Frederic then, he turned so white; and she almost hated Isabel, as she saw the malicious triumph in her eye. Breathlessly, too, she awaited the answer, which was:
“I shall never abandon the search until I find her, or know certainly that she is dead. I went to the place where she used to live, not long ago.”
“Indeed! What did you learn?” and a part of Isabel’s assurance left her, for she felt that his searching for his wife was a reality with him; while Marian’s heart grew hopeful and warm again, as she listened to Frederic Raymond telling Isabel Huntington of that dear old room which had been her home so long.
“I can’t conceive what made her run away,” said Isabel, fixing her large, glittering eyes upon Frederic, who coolly replied, “I can,” and then turning to Marian he abruptly commenced a conversation upon an entirely different subject.
Biting her lip with vexation, Isabel arose to go, saying she should expect to see Miss Grey at her own house, and that she hoped she would sometimes bring Mr. Raymond with her.
“You need not be afraid to come,” she continued, addressing herself to him, “for everybody knows you have a wife, consequently your coming will create no scandal concerning yourself and mother!” and with a hateful laugh she swept haughtily down the walk.
From this time forth Isabel was a frequent visitor at Riverside, where she always managed to say something which seriously affected Marian’s peace of mind and led her to distrust the man who was beginning to feel far more interest in the Marian found than in the Marian lost. This the quick-sighted Isabel saw and while her bosom rankled with envy towards her rival, she exulted in the thought that love her as he might he dared not tell her of his love, for a barrier the living wife had built between the two. Though professing the utmost regard for Miss Grey she did not hesitate to speak against her when an opportunity occurred, but her shafts fell harmlessly, for where Marian was known she was esteemed and the wily woman gave up the contest at last and waited anxiously to see the end.
Towards the last of October, Ben, who was now a petty grocer in a New England village, came to Riverside for the first time since Marian’s residence there. Never before had he appeared so happy, and his honest face was all aglow with his delight at seeing Marian at last where she belonged.