pity for his situation
made it possible to ignore his baseness. And the days went on as before.
She was not conscious of any change, save in the heightened, almost
artificial quality of her happiness, till one day in March, when Mr.
Langhope announced that he was going for two or three weeks to a
friend's shooting-box in the south. The anniversary of Bessy's death was
approaching, and Justine knew that at that time he always absented
himself.

"Supposing you and Amherst were to carry off Cicely till I come back?
Perhaps you could persuade him to break away from work for once--or, if
that's impossible, you could take her with you to Hanaford. She looks a
little pale, and the change would be good for her."

This was a great concession on Mr. Langhope's part, and Justine saw the
pleasure in her husband's face. It was the first time that his
father-in-law had suggested Cicely's going to Hanaford.

"I'm afraid I can't break away just now, sir," Amherst said, "but it
will be delightful for Justine if you'll give us Cicely while you're
away."

"Take her by all means, my dear fellow: I always sleep on both ears when
she's with your wife."

It was nearly three months since Justine had left Hanaford--and now she
was to return there alone with her husband! There would be hours, of
course, when the child's presence was between them--or when, again, his
work would keep him at the mills. But in the evenings, when Cicely was
in bed--when he and she sat alone, together in the Westmore
drawing-room--in Bessy's drawing-room!... No--she must find some excuse
for remaining away till she had again grown used to the idea of being
alone with Amherst. Every day she was growing a little more used to it;
but it would take time--time, and the full assurance that Wyant was
silenced. Till then she could not go back to Hanaford.

She found a pretext in her own health. She pleaded that she was a little
tired, below par...and to return to Hanaford meant returning to hard
work; with the best will in the world she could not be idle there. Might
she not, she suggested, take Cicely to Tuxedo or Lakewood, and thus get
quite away from household cares and good works? The pretext rang
hollow--it was so unlike her! She saw Amherst's eyes rest anxiously on
her as Mr. Langhope uttered his prompt assent. Certainly she did look
tired--Mr. Langhope himself had noticed it. Had he perhaps over-taxed
her energies, left the household too entirely on her shoulder