But when she reached her room Lady Mildred made no attempt to sleep, for she was strangely disturbed; instinct told her that there was a good deal of truth in what Lady Ethel had said.
Did she love her husband? The question could not be answered readily, although she realized that her feelings towards him were very different to what they were at the time of their marriage.
Before she began to dress for dinner, a visit was paid to the nursery and she took the baby in her arms and pressed it closely to her breast. Its eyes were open and it struck her very forcibly that the child was more like her husband than herself, and she was conscious of a twinge of jealousy, but the feeling quickly passed and again she remembered John Gaunt’s never varying kindness. Did she love him?
Her lips reverently touched the baby and she turned away with a sigh. As she slowly dressed, a determination was born—a determination to give her husband a chance, and to allow him to approach more closely to her.
During dinner Gaunt was very quiet but as soon as the meal was over he rose from the table.
“Mr. Drake and I have an engagement—if you will excuse us,” he announced quietly.
“Is it important? I rather wanted to talk to you,” Lady Mildred answered with unwonted tenderness.
“I am sorry. It is a meeting about the Congo, and——”
“Will you take me with you?” Lady Ethel broke in eagerly.
“Do you wish to listen to a recital of horrors?” he asked brusquely.