His eyes, wandering round the room, rested on Mrs.Linley--brilliant and beautiful, and laughing gayly.

Why was he looking at his wife with plain signs of embarrassment in his face?
Sydney piteously persisted in repeating her innocent question: "I hope I haven't done anything to offend you ?" He seemed to be still reluctant to notice her--on the one occasion of all others when she was looking her best! But he answered at last.
"My dear child, it is impossible that you should offend me; you have misunderstood and mistaken me.

Don't suppose--pray don't suppose that I am changed or can ever be changed toward you." He emphasized the kind intention which those words revealed by giving her his hand.
But the next moment he drew back.

There was no disguising it, he drew back as if he wished to get away from her.

She noticed that his lips were firmly closed and his eyebrows knitted in a frown; he looked like a man who was forcing himself to submit to some hard necessity that he hated or feared.
Sydney left the room in despair.
He had denied in the plainest and kindest terms that he was changed toward her.