"
Maude took no notice.
There happened to be some water standing on a table, and the dowager
poured out a tumblerful and drank it, though not accustomed to the
beverage. Untying her bonnet-strings she sat down, a little calmer.
"Perhaps you'll explain this at your convenience, Maude."
"There is nothing to explain," was the answer. "What I told you was the
truth. The action _has_ been entered by the Ashtons."
"And I tell you that the action has not."
"I assure you that it has," returned Maude. "I told you of the evening we
first had notice of it, and the damages claimed; do you think I invented
that, or went to sleep and dreamt it? If Val has gone down once to that
Temple about it, he has gone fifty times. He would not go for pleasure."
The countess-dowager sat fanning herself quietly: for her daughter's
words were gaining ground.
"There's a mistake somewhere, Maude, and it is on your side and not mine.
I'll lay my life that no action has been entered by Dr. Ashton. The man
spoke the truth; I can read the truth when I see it as well as anyone:
his face flushed with pain and anger at such a thing being said of him.
It may not be difficult to explain this contradiction."
"Do you think not?" returned Maude, her indifference exciting the
listener to anger.
"_I_ should say Hartledon is deceiving you. If any action is entered
against him at all, it isn't that sort of action; or perhaps the young
lady is not Miss Ashton, but some other; he's just the kind of man to be
drawn into promising marriage to a dozen or two.
Pages:
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344