And for the first week he did make progress.
He acted upon the theory that Marian had been hypnotized and that the
proper treatment was to ignore her delusion and to treat her with assiduous
but not annoying consideration. He did not pose as an injured or jealous
lover. He was the friend, always at her service, always thinking out plans
for her amusement. He made no reference to their engagement or to Howard.
Several people of their set were at the hotel and Marian was soon drifting
back into her accustomed modes of thought. The wider horizon which she
fancied Howard had shown her was growing dim and hazy. The horizon which he
had made her think narrow was beginning again to seem the only one. This
meant Danvers; but he was not acute enough to understand her and to follow
up his advantage.
One morning as he was walking up and down under the palms, waiting for Mrs.
Carnarvon and Marian, Mrs. Fortescue called him. She was a cold, rather
handsome woman. In her eyes was the expression that always betrays the wife
or the mistress who loathes the man she lives with, enduring him only
because he gives her that which she most wants--money. She had one fixed
idea--to marry her daughter "well," that is, to money.
"Can you join us to-day, Teddy?" she asked.
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