“Do tell! Is she so happy that she wants to see every one else happy too?”
“I think that was her feeling.”
“Oh, it wasn’t because if I remained unattached I might attract her husband away from her?”
“I am quite certain she had no thought of the kind. She has no fear for her husband, and she need have none.” The Queen spoke strongly, for the suggestion had made her angry, but it occurred to her that this was not a very propitious opening to the interview. She drew nearer to her daughter-in-law. “Félicia,” she said, “you believe I wish you well, don’t you? My only desire is to see you and Michael living happily together. Do you feel it quite impossible”—she hesitated a little over the form of the question—“to return to him.”
“Quite,” answered Félicia calmly. “The insult was too great. He had absolutely no excuse for his conduct.”
“I don’t want to palliate it, but—had he any reason to think you would listen patiently if he spoke to you first? Was there such confidence between you that his jealousy was palpably unreasonable?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” said Félicia, sitting up in her chair, her eyes flashing. “If you are trying to shift the blame on to me——”
“I am not, believe me. All I mean is that you and Michael together had treated Usk very cruelly. Had Michael any guarantee that you would not treat him in the same way if you could?”
“I don’t know,” with a superb gesture of disdain. “I just expect to be trusted without any question of guarantees. Your son has had to learn that, and I guess the world will know it too before long.”
“But, Félicia, you must make allowances for Michael. I don’t defend his action, but will you not forgive it? I believe he really loves you, and I think he must have had some idea of satisfying his mind without entering on a disagreeable subject with you.”