He was so grateful for her kindness--and affected by her beauty; he could not do less, he felt.
And after that, with a deliciously girlish and confused gasp, Mrs.
Cricklander had hastily quitted the room.
It was not until the second day that she came again--and he had begun to wish for her.
This time she was bright and amusing, and assumed airs of authority over him, and was careful never to sit so that her hand might be in reach, while she used every one of her many arts of tantalization and enjoyed herself as only she knew how to do.
It was perfectly divine to have him there to play upon like a violin and to know it was only a question of time before she would secure him for her own! After this, she had visitors in the house and did not come for three days, and John Derringham felt a little peevish and aggrieved.

It rained, too, and his head ached still with the slightest exertion.
He now began to put all thoughts of Halcyone away from him, as far as he was able.

It was too late to do anything--she must think him base, as she had never sent him one word.

This caused him restless anguish.

What was the meaning of it all?
Could she have learned in the light of the world that it was not a very great position he had offered her, and so despised him in consequence?
What aspect of it might they not have put into her head--these people she was with--this step-mother of whom he had never heard?
In all cases Fate had parted them, and he must cut the pain of it from his life or it would destroy him.