Chapter 25
When supper was announced, I went upstairs again to show my aunt the way to the room in which we took our meals. "Well?" I said. "Well," she answered coolly, "Madame Fontaine has promised to reconsider it." I confess I was staggered. By what possible motives could the widow have been animated? Even Mr. Engelman's passive assistance was now of no further importance to her. She had gained Mr. Keller's confidence; her daughter's marriage was assured; her employment in the house offered her a liberal salary, a respectable position, and a comfortable home. Why should she consent to reconsider the question of marrying a man, in whom she could not be said to feel any sort of true interest, in any possible acceptation of the words? I began to think that my aunt was right, and that I really did
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