And Danvers at once gave Ellen Fortescue her due. She sat silent
beside her mother, looking the personification of innocence, purity and
poetry. Her mother continued subtly to poison Danvers against Marian, to
make him feel that she had not appreciated him, that she had trifled with
him, that she had not treated him as his dignity and importance merited.
When she and Mrs. Carnarvon appeared, he joined them tardily, after having
made an arrangement with the Fortescues for the next day.
That evening he danced several times with Ellen Fortescue and adopted the
familiar lover's tactics--he set about making Marian jealous. He scored the
customary success. When she went to bed she lay for several hours looking
out into the moonlight, raging against the Fortescues and against Danvers.
The mere fact that a man whom she regarded as hers was permitting himself
to show marked attention to another woman would have been sufficient. But
in addition, Marian was perfectly aware of the material advantages of this
particular man. She did not want to marry him; at least she was of that
mind at the moment. But she might change her mind. Certainly, if there was
to be any breaking off, she wished it to be of her doing. She did not fancy
the idea of him departing joyfully.
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