She dared not cherish any hope of winning Hamilton, yet it came as a great shock to her when Eva announced her engagement to him.
Her very lips whitened with emotion, and she added gaspingly:
“I—I—am sorry that I ever came to New York. It has only brought sorrow to us all!”
Poor Eva, distressed beyond measure, faltered:
“Oh, Ada, and we have all tried in our poor way to make you happy! I am surprised at you. If I were free, like you, to marry Doctor Ludington I would not envy the very angels in heaven!”
“Eva, you have no right to marry Reggie if you cannot give him your heart!” Ada cried out, almost harshly in her jealous pain.
“But, Ada, I am really fond of him in a way. We have always been quite good comrades, and they all say I will love him dearly when we are married. And I am willing to try it, for I need something to change the tenor of my thoughts, to take me quite out of myself. We shall be happy, I’m sure, Reggie and I together, and I want you to make Doctor Ludington think so, too,” Eva answered eagerly.
“It almost seems to me, dear, that you are marrying another just to spite Doctor Ludington, and that would be very wrong,” protested Ada.
Eva’s pale lips parted in a mocking laugh.
“What queer fancies you have, Ada! It is nothing of the kind. I am marrying to please papa, auntie, Reggie, and, of course, myself! Think how grand I shall be. I shall have the Hamilton diamonds, the finest in New York. Good night, dear,” and with a burning kiss on Ada’s cheek she flitted from the room.