ason never to speak of it, were the only
persons possessing his secret.

But all England knew of Frank's mesalliance. And the question was, What
would people do? They very properly did nothing at first. They waited to
see how the Armours would act: they did not congratulate; they did not
console; that was left to those papers which chanced to resent General
Armour's politics, and those others which were emotional and sensational
on every subject--particularly so where women were concerned.

It was the beginning of the season, but the Armours had decided that
they would not go to town. That is, the general and his wife were
not going. They felt that they ought to be at Greyhope with their
daughter-in-law--which was to their credit. Regarding Marion they
had nothing to say. Mrs. Armour inclined to her going to town for the
season, to visit Mrs. Townley, who had thoughtfully written to her,
saying that she was very lonely, and begging Mrs. Armour to let her
come, if she would. She said that of course Marion would see much of her
people in town just the same. Mrs. Townley was a very clever and tactful
woman.

She guessed that General Armour and his wife were not likely to come
to town, but that must not appear, and the invitation should be on a
different basis--as it was.

It is probable that Marion saw through the delicate plot, but that did
not make her like Mrs. Townley less. These little pieces of art make
life possible, these tender fictions!

Marion was, however, not in good humour; she was nervous and a little
petulant. She had a high-strung temperament, a sensitive perception of
the fitness of things, and a horror of what was gauche; and she would,
in brief, make a rather austere person if the lines of life did not run
in her favour. She had something of Frank's impulsiveness and temper;
it would have been a great blessing to her if she had had a portion of
Richard's philosophical humour also. She was at a point of tension--her
mother and Richard could see that. She was anxious--though for the world
she would not have had it thought so--regarding Captain Vidall. She had
never cared for anybody but him; it was possible she never would. But he
did not know this, and she was not absolutely sure that his evident but
as yet informal love would stand this strain--which shows how people
very honourable and perfect-minded in themselves may allow a large
margin to other people who are presumably honourable and perfect-m