She welcomed Beecher's arrival as that of an ally and made him the pretext of withdrawing from the general conversation. The moment he looked at her, he had the tact to perceive that any display of sympathy would be an offense. There was no trace left of the weak and desperate woman. Instead, he was aware of an immense change in her, a transformation that was moral, and looking into her eyes he could not realize that he had ever seen them weep.
"They'll force out Slade," said a voice.
"Where are you tonight?" she asked quietly.
"In Mrs. Craig Fontaine's box," he said.
"Mrs. Kildair is there, isn't she?"
"Yes." He hesitated, but did not deliver her message. The woman before him asked compassion from no one. In the commotion at his side he caught a phrase: "Wonder if Slade will kill himself too?"
"Do you like Fornez?" he said hastily, and despite himself he looked into her eyes to see what effect the remark had made.
"Very much," she said coldly, a little staccato. And then calmly, to end a subject that was disagreeable to her, she turned to the other. "Fornez has made a success, don't you think?"
Beecher left presently, oppressed by the hardness that he felt in her.
"There's a woman who will never have any pity," he thought as he left. Mr. Bloodgood, who remembered him with a malicious smile, shook his hand with extra cordiality.