The fact that Ida had consented to the plan of adoption showed beyond doubt that she had given up all idea of being his wife, at least for the present, and possibly of ever marrying him at all.
Why had she dealt with him so strangely?
Why had she used him with such cruel caprice?
Was ever a man treated so perversely by a woman who loved him?
Miss Ludington could only shake her head as he poured out his complaints to her.

Ida's contradictory behaviour was as much a puzzle to her as to him, and she deplored it scarcely less.

But she insisted that he should not trouble the girl by demanding explanations of her, as that, by vexing her, would only make matters worse.
If, indeed, Paul had any disposition to take the attitude of an aggrieved person, it vanished when he met Ida at the tea-table.

The sight of her swollen eyes and red lids, and the piteous looks, of deprecating tenderness which from time to time she bent on him, left room for nothing in his heart but a great love and compassion.

Whatever might be the secret of this strange caprice it was evidently no mere piece of wantonness.