They
met and spoke as though that day on which Willoughby had landed at the
garden, and the evening when Ethne had played the Musoline Overture upon
the violin, had been blotted from their experience. Mrs. Adair was
relieved at first, but when the sense of personal danger passed from
her, and she saw that her interference had been apparently without
effect, she began to be puzzled. A little while, and she was both angry
and disappointed.
Durrance, indeed, quickly made up his mind. Ethne wished him not to
know; it was some consolation to her in her distress to believe that she
had brought happiness to this one man whose friend she genuinely was.
And of that consolation Durrance was aware. He saw no reason to destroy
it--for the present. He must know certainly whether a misunderstanding
or an irreparable breach separated Ethne from Feversham before he took
the steps he had in mind. He must have sure knowledge, too, of Harry
Feversham's fate. Therefore he pretended to know nothing; he abandoned
even his habit of attention and scrutiny, since for these there was no
longer any need; he forced himself to a display of contentment; he made
light of his misfortune, and professed to find in Ethne's company more
than its compensation.
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