Cydonia hoped he would not write. "Father" thought it better not. She was "VERY sorry." For the first time the careful writing shook a little. A line crossed through revealed the fact that she would "miss him dreadfully."
But she thought her parents "knew best." They had been "very kind" to her—and "Father was writing to explain."
This statement was distinctly true. For Cadell rubbed salt into the sore!
McTaggart turned once more to his letter.
To begin with it was plain he mistrusted McTaggart's unforeseen departure; only too evident that he thought this foreign trip a way of escape from the outcome of an evening's folly!
But, in any case, whether or no his intentions toward Cydonia were honorable and uninvolved by any "pecuniary consideration," McTaggart stood no earthly chance of success as his son-in-law.
Cydonia was destined to higher flights ... (McTaggart thought of Bethune's words: "Some young ass with a title and debts!")
She would inherit a large fortune and her beauty and costly education "would fit her for any position."
"She's almost worthy," McTaggart sneered, "to become the Marchesa Maramonte."
For anger was still dominant. The lonely longing was to follow.