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When he went to Isabel's room more than an hour later, his eyes were heavy with weariness, and he moved like a man who bears a burden. She was alone, and looked up at his entrance with a smile of welcome. "Come and sit down, Stumpy! I've seen nothing of you. Dinah has only just left me.
Val, smoking his temperate pipe on the other side of the diningroom hearth, temperately suggested that the amount of luxury in Isabel's life wouldn't hurt a fly. "One grain of strychnine will destroy a life: and one hour of temptation may destroy a soul for ever." Val bowed his head in assent. "Why are we all so fond of Isabel? Because she hasn't a particle of self-consciousness in her.
The long-closed bar-room of Old Inn was aired for a week, denuded of cobwebs, delivered of mice, canvassed by the invaluable Chuma. The Rosewater Hotel promised to contribute its Sunday band of four pieces, manipulated with no mean skill by worthy but unprosperous young citizens. Not one of Isabel's invitations was refused.
Was it not better, then, to prevent words being said which might cause sorrow and regret in the future? But as regarded Isabel's father, no such reason existed. The happiness of his children was to him a more sacred thing than his own prejudices. He liked Don Luis, and his friendship with his mother, the Senora Alveda, was a long and tried one.
Imogen had no other intimate, but she knew too little of Isabel's other interests to be made uncomfortable about them, and was quite happy in her position as nearest and closest confidante until, four years before, Geoffrey Templestowe came home for a visit, bringing with him his American wife, whose name before her marriage had been Clover Carr, and whom some of you who read this will recognize as an old friend.
Probation maybe safer than joy; and you may do more good to yourself and others than even under Isabel's wing. Only think of the means in your hands, and all the wretched population round! There will be some hope of help for the curate now besides, I shall know where to come for subscriptions next time I run crazy about any wonderful charity. Clara smiled. 'I suppose I must bear it, she said.
"Did you, indeed," said Isabel's mamma coldly. "My dear child, how anxious she will be!" "Oh, I should think not," I said hopefully. "I am sure she can trust Mr. Dod to take care of himself and of us, too, for the matter of that." "Mr. Dod!" exclaimed Mrs. Portheris with indignation. "My poor child's anxiety will be for her mother." And we let it go at that.
He could hear the overseer's heavy breathing and Isabel's senseless babbling the latter was moaning and muttering ceaselessly, but, being accustomed to her restlessness, Esteban paid no heed. Letting himself out into the night, he took the path that led to the old sunken garden.
Dimly Isabel guessed that since coming out of her destructive hands Hyde himself could be both coarse and cruel: the seed of brutality must have been in him all along, but Myrtle Villa had fertilized it. If he married again, what would be required of Lizzie's successor? A strange deep smile gave to Isabel's young lips the wisdom of the women of all the ages.
It was Bernard's way: it meant nothing: but it was irksome to Val, especially when he could not soothe himself by dropping into Laura's quiet parlour for a cup of tea. Yet his irritation would not have lingered through a cigarette if Isabel's news had not revived it. This cousin of Bernard's! Val had not much faith in any cousin of Bernard Clowes: nor in the kindness of life.
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