or his part in the
early history of the affair, and he is very angry as well.

"Now," he says, "I am going away, and I shall not be home to luncheon,
but I will meet you at the Latimers'. If Marcia dares to make another
comment, it will be the worse for her, that's all. My poor child, are
you going to keep that dreary face and those despairing eyes for Floyd
to see?"

He has a very strong inclination to take her in his arms and shower
tenderness upon her; but if he has been drifting that way for the past
week, he is rudely awakened now. He looks at her helplessly. If she
would only cry; the girls he has seen have been ready enough with their
tears.

"Yes, you must go," she says, wearily. "Thank you for the letter, for
_all_." Then she walks slowly out of the room.

CHAPTER XXIV.

What act of Legislature was there that thou shouldst be happy?--CARLYLE.

While Eugene Grandon's anger is at white heat he goes to Madame
Lepelletier and taxes her with betrayed trust. He knows very well that
Marcia could not long keep such a tidbit to herself. Laura is away, and
his mother never has repeated the tale, though to him she has bemoaned
his short-sightedness, the more since the fortune has been certain.

Madame is surprised, dignified, and puts down the young man with the
steel hand in the velvet glove; explaining that Marcia had it from some
other source. There really is nothing detrimental in it to Mrs.
Grandon. A handsome young man of good family may be selected without
insult to _any_ young woman, and to decline a lady you never saw cannot
reflect on the _personale_ of the one under consideration. It seems
rather silly at this late hour to take umbrage.

Eugene cools a little, and admits to himself there is nothing in it
that ought to make Violet miserable, especially since he has confessed
that he would be only too glad to marry her now; and as for the
accusation of flirting, he can soon put an end to that by being sweet
on Lucia Brade for a week or two. But he really _does_ care for Violet,
and no one shall offer her any insult with impunity. He means to go at
Marcia when opportunity offers. Ah! can it be her husband who gave her
the delectable information?

Violet goes to her room and reads her letter, that is tender with the
thought of return, and yet it does not move her. Floyd Grandon is fond
of her; he pitied her desolate condition long ago, and since he did not
need her fortune he took her simply to s