The Reason Why

Chapter 32

This, the last dinner at Montfitchet, passed more quietly than the rest.

The company were perhaps subdued, from their revels of the night before;

and every one hates the thought of breaking up a delightful party and

separating on the morrow, even when it has only been a merry gathering

like this.

And two people were divinely happy, and two people supremely sad, and

one mean little heart was full of bitterness and malice unassuaged. So

after dinner was over, and they were all once more in the white

drawing-room, the different elements assorted themselves.

Lady Anningford took Tristram aside and began, with great tact and much

feeling, to see if he could be cajoled into a better mood; and finally

got severely snubbed for her trouble, which hurt her more because she

realized how d