Fortunately, she was not the kind of woman--he felt sure--to be led into any vulgar retaliation.

All he could do was to write a very brief note, in which he expressed a hope of seeing her very soon.

"I shall have much to tell you," he added, and tried to think that Iris would accept this as a significant promise.
After all, were not man and woman, disguise the fact as one might, condemned by nature to mutual hostility?
Useless to attempt rational methods with beings to whom reason was fundamentally repugnant.

Dyce fell from mortification into anger, and cursed the poverty which forbade him to act in full accordance with his ideal of conduct.
He had spent nearly a fortnight at Rivenoak, when Lady Ogram, now seemingly restored to her ordinary health, summoned him at eleven in the morning to the green drawing-room.
"I hope I didn't disturb your work," she began, kindly.

"As you are leaving so soon--" Dyce had said nothing whatever about departure--"I should like to have a quiet word with you, whilst Constance is in the town.