"If I were you," said Mrs. Denison, "I would not call at present."
"Why."
"This act of her former husband is too recent. Let her have time to get her mind clear as to her new relation. She may break through her seclusion now, and go abroad into society again. If so you will meet her without the constraint of a private interview."
"But she may still shut herself out from the world. Isolation may have become a kind of second nature."
"We shall see," replied Mrs. Denison. "But for the present I think it will be wiser to wait."
Weeks, even months, passed, and Paul Hendrickson waited in vain. He was growing very impatient.
"I must see her! Suspense like this is intolerable!" he said, coming in upon Mrs. Denison one evening.
"I warn you against it," replied Mrs. Denison.
"I cannot heed the warning."
"Her life is very placid, I am told by Mrs. De Lisle. Would you throw its elements again into wild disturbance?"