‘I thought I should have heard from you about it.’

The reason of his silence she perfectly understood.  Since Horace’s engagement, there had been a marked change in her demeanour towards the man of business; she had answered his one or two letters with such cold formality, and, on the one occasion of his venturing to call, had received him with so marked a reserve, that Crewe, as he expressed it to himself, ‘got his back up.’  His ideas of chivalrous devotion were anything but complex; he could not bend before a divinity who snubbed him; if the once gracious lady chose to avert her countenance, he would let her know that it didn’t matter much to him after all.  Moreover, Mrs. Damerel’s behaviour was too suggestive; he could hardly be wrong in explaining it by the fact that her nephew, about to be enriched by marriage, might henceforth be depended upon for all the assistance she needed.  This, in the Americanism which came naturally to Crewe’s lips, was ’playing it rather low down,’ and he resented it.

The sudden ruin of Horace Lord’s prospects (he had learnt the course of events from Horace himself) amused and gratified him.  How would the high and mighty Mrs. Damerel relish this catastrophe?  Would she have the ‘cheek’ to return to her old graciousness?  If so, he had the game in his hands; she should see that he was not to be made a fool of a second time.

Yet the mere announcement of her name sufficed to shatter his resolve.  Her smile, her soft accents, her polished manners, laid the old spell upon him.  He sought to excuse himself for having forsaken her in her trial.

’It really floored me.  I didn’t know what to say or do.  I was afraid you might think I was meddling with what didn’t concern me.’

’Oh, how could I have thought that?  It has made me ill; I have suffered more than I can tell you.’

‘You don’t look quite the thing,’ said Crewe, searching her face.

‘Have you heard all?’

‘I think so.  He is married, and that’s the end of it, I suppose.’

Mrs. Damerel winced at this blunt announcement.

‘When was it?’ she asked, in an undertone.  ’I only knew he had made up his mind.’

Crewe mentioned the date; the day after Nancy’s call upon her.

‘And are they at Bournemouth?’

‘Yes.  Will be for a month or so, he says.’

’Well, we won’t talk of it.  As you say, that’s the end.  Nothing worse could have happened.  Has he been speaking of me again like he used to?’

‘I haven’t heard him mention your name.’

She heaved a sigh, and began to look round the office.