Silent contempt
was what she could least endure from him of all men; yet this was
just what his manner toward her expressed-if it expressed
anything. Beyond those words as they were leaving the island, he
had said nothing, had never referred to the incident, had not so
much as mentioned Anthony's name unless forced to do so, and this
offended her unreasonably. She caught him regarding her strangely
at times with a curious, faltering expression, but he was so icy
in his reserve, he yielded so easily to her predominance, that she
could divine nothing and turned the more fiercely to her inward
struggle. Even if he did suspect, what then? It was no affair of
his; she was her own mistress. She had given him all he possessed,
she had made a man of him. He was her creature, and had no rights
beyond what she chose to give. They saw less and less of each
other. He became more formal, more respectfully unhusbandlike. He
spent few daylight hours in the house, coming and going as he
pleased, frequenting the few clubs of the city, or riding alone.
On more than one occasion he met her and Anthony on their horses.
Only before others, or at their frequent political councils, were
they quite the same as they had been.
Of Anthony, on the other hand, she arranged to see more than ever,
flattering him by a new deference in her manner, making him feel
always at ease with her, watching him vainly for the least sign of
awakening desire.
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