“Who knows?” said Minna, with an insolent upsweep of her lazy lashes.
“Have you anything to say against it?”
“Oh, dear, no. You got my letter, didn’t you? You can have as many wives as the late Brigham Young, if you like.”
Hugh bowed ironically. It was like her to meet tragic issues with vulgarity.
“Tell me,” he said, with a quick change of manner, “why did you go to Mrs. Merriam’s on that evening during the trial?”
The question was so abrupt and the incident for the moment so far from her thoughts that she gave a little gasp of surprise and the blood came into her cheeks. She drooped her eyes, stole a surreptitious glance at him, and seeing his face very stern, hardened her heart and laughed contemptuously.
“The thing got on my nerves, I suppose—you don’t fancy I contemplated murdering you in cold blood? I thought your dear, true friend Mr. Merriam might help me. Wasn’t I a silly little fool?”
“I am glad you had one moment of compunction,” said Hugh.
“I have sincerely repented of it since, I assure you. But we need not talk of unpleasant things. All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. I see you are amply consoled, while I——”
“And you?”.