CHAPTER XVHilary felt a deep relief sweep over her. She dressed, a little later, for a morning down-town, sending no word to Dora, and making no attempt to see her. Dora’s nearest and dearest disapproved of her, and it would not hurt her to know it.
The holiday reaction had set in; holly wreaths looked oddly out of date in the shops, and customers and saleswomen alike yawned and blinked wearily. But Hilary enjoyed poking about the snowy streets; she walked briskly, and the crisp air brought a bright glow to her cheeks. All night long she had been tossing and restless, worrying about Dora. Now the sun was shining again, and Craig was philosophical and strong; matters would somehow settle themselves, and life would go on.
She amused herself, in this unusual solitude and freedom, with a dre
