He has been more thoughtful; and all the old vacillation is
gone."
The countess-dowager could not understand at all; neither did she
believe; and she only stared at Maude.
"His _not_ coming down with me is a proof that he exercises his own will
now. I wished him to come very much, and he knew it; but you see he has
not done so."
"And what do you say is keeping him?" repeated the countess-dowager.
"Business--"
"Ah," interrupted the dowager, before Maude could finish, "that's the
general excuse. Always suspect it, my dear."
"Suspect what?" asked Maude.
"When a man says that, and gets his wife out of the way with it, rely
upon it he is pursuing some nice little interests of his own."
Lady Hartledon understood the implication; she felt nettled, and a flush
rose to her face. In her husband's loyalty (always excepting his feeling
towards Miss Ashton) she rested fully assured.
"You did not allow me to finish," was the cold rejoinder. "Business _is_
keeping him in town, for one thing; for another, I think he cannot get
over his dislike to face the Ashtons."
"Rubbish!" cried the wrathful dowager. "He does not tell you what the
business is, does he?" she cynically added.
"I happen to know," answered Maude. "The Ashtons are bringing an action
against him for breach of promise; and he and Mr. Carr the barrister are
trying to arrange it without its coming to a trial.
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