Mr.Belcher sat and feasted his greedy, exultant eyes on the woman before him, and marveled at the adroitness with which, to use his own coarse phrase, she "pulled the wool" over the eyes of his wife.

In what a lovely way did she hide her passion for him! How sweetly did she draw out the sympathy of the deceived woman at her side! Ah! he could trust her! Her changed, amiable, almost pathetic demeanor was attributed by him to the effect of his power upon her, and her own subtle ingenuity in shielding from the eyes of Mrs.Belcher a love that she deemed hopeless.

In his own mind it was not hopeless.

In his own determination, it should not be! As for Mrs.Belcher, she had never so much enjoyed Mrs.Dillingham's society before.

She blamed herself for not having understood her better; and when she parted with her for the day, she expressed in hearty terms her wish that she might see more of her in the future.
Mrs.Dillingham, on the return, was dropped at her own door first.