Perhaps she might triumph yet. It was a hopeful augury that he was not willing to lose sight of her yet.
Poor vain and artful Elinor! She did not dream of the real truth.
She believed that Golden had been thrust out of her way forever.
Strangely enough, though she had known the true cause of the Desmonds' separation, she had never been able to ferret out the reason of their reconciliation.
Immediately after Mr. Desmond reached Italy his wife had summarily dismissed Celine.
No hints, nor careless appearance of wonder on Elinor's part could elicit the reason for the maid's dismissal.
She only knew that the Frenchwoman had gone away in insolent triumph, taking with her the money she had wrested from her in payment for her treachery to poor little Golden.
Mrs. Desmond's generous impulse to accompany her brother was frustrated by the sudden illness of her little daughter, so Bertram was forced to go on his sad mission without her, and Elinor was jubilant over the prospect of a long, delightful trip under his exclusive care.
Anticipation and reality are different things, however, as Elinor was fated to learn.
Never was there a more gloomy or self-absorbed cavalier than the handsome and entertaining Mr. Chesleigh on this occasion.