The Press., 1894-10-04
CHAPTER V.

l It is just as well perhaps that the 1 matter had become notorious. Other wise the Armours had lived in that un. pleasant condition of being constantly discovered. !" It was simply case o1 aiming at absolute secrecy, which had been frustrated by Frank himself, ol bold and unembarrassed acknowledg- ment and an attempt to carry things of with high hand The latter course was the only one possible. It had origi- nally been Richard s idea, appropriated by General Armour and accepted by Mrs. Armour and Marion with what grace was possible. The publication of the event prepared their friends and precluded the necessity for reserve. What the friends did not know was whether they ought or ought not to commiserate the Armours. It was diff ficult position. A death, an accident, a lost reputation, would have been easy to them. Concerning these there could be no doubt. But an Indian daughter in-law, a person in moccasins, was scarcely thing to be congratulated upon, and yet sympathy and consolation might be much misplaced. No one could tell how the Armours would take it, for even their closest acquaintances knew what kind of delicate hauteur was possible to them. Even the "'centric" Richard, who visited the cottages of the poor, carrying soup and luxuries of many kinds, accompanying them with the most wholesome advice single man ever gave to families and the heads of families, whose laugh was so cheery and spontaneous-and face so uncom- monly grave and sad at times-had a faculty for manner With astonishing suddenness he could raise insurmounta- ble barriers, and people not of his or der, who occasionally presumed on his simplicity of life and habits, found themselves put distinctly i'll at ease by quiet, curious look ill his eye. No man was ever more the recluSe and at the same time the man of the world. He had had his bitter little comedy of life, but it was different from that of his brother Frank It was buried very deep. Not one of his family knew of it. Edward Lambert and one or two others who had good reason never to speak of it were the only persons pos sessing his secret.
 But all England knew of Frank $ mesalliance. And the question was, What would people do? They very prop erly did nothing at first. They waited to see how the Armours would act; they did not congratulate; they did not con sole. That was left to those papers aI, mour's politics anl those others which were emotional and sensational on ev' cry subject, particularly so where wom- en were concerned.
 It was the beginning of the season, but the Armours had decided that they would not go to town-that is, the gen. eral and his wife were not going. They felt that they ought to be at Greybope with their daughter in law, which was to their credit. Regarding Marion they had nothing to say. Mrs. Armour in clined to her going to town for the sea- son 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 ill 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 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 lit tie pieces of art make life possible-these tender fictions
 Marion was, however, not in good humor. She was nervous and a little petulant She had high strung tenn perament, a sensitive perception of the fitness of things and horror of what was gauche, and she would, in brief, make rather austere person if the lines of life did not run ill her favor She had something of Franks impul- siveness and temper. It would have been great blessing to her if she had had a portion of Richards philosophical humor also. She was at point of ten sion-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 ab- solutely sure that his evident but as yet informal love would stand this strain, which shows how people very honora- ble and perfect minded in themselves may allow large margin to other peo- pie who are presumably honorable and perfect minded also.
 There was no engagement between them, and he was not bound in any way, and could, therefore, without slash ing the hem of the code, retire without any apology, but they had had that un- spoken understanding which most peo- pie who love each other show even be-