He might have stayed away much longer, in self-interested obedience to
Carrington, had he been sure of Paulina's unabated devotion; but he was
piqued by her silence, and he wanted to discover whether there was a
rival in the field.
He knew Madame Durski's habits, and that it was not till late in the
afternoon that she was to be seen.
It was nearly six o'clock when he drove up to the door of Hilton House.
Carlo Toas admitted him, and favoured him with a searching and somewhat
severe scrutiny, as he led the way to the drawing-room in which Paulina
was wont to receive her guests.
Here Sir Reginald felt some little surprise, and a touch of
mortification, on beholding the aspect of things. He had expected to
find Paulina pensive, unhappy, perhaps ill. He had expected to see her
agitated at his coming. He had pondered much upon the cessation of her
letters; and he had told himself that she had ceased to write because
she was angry with him--with that anger which exists only where there
is love.
To his surprise, he found her brilliant, radiant, dressed in her most
charming style.
Never had he seen her looking more beautiful or more happy.
He pressed the widow's hand tenderly, and contemplated her for some
moments in silence.
"My dear Paulina," he said at last, "I never saw you looking more
lovely than to-night. And yet to-night I almost feared to find you
ill.
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