and Lady Ethel smiled, well pleased.
"Mamma," said Sir John's _fiancee_ an hour or two later, when mother
and daughter were alone. "Do you know who Mrs. Chetwynd was?"
"My dear Ethel, it is much better that subject should not be
discussed."
"I don't agree with you. Since I am going to marry John it can only
be right and proper that I should be made aware of every detail
connected with his former marriage."
When Lady Ethel adopted that tone, her mother knew by past experience
that it was a saving of time and temper to yield.
"I only know that she was beneath him in position--a dancer, I
believe, and she ran away with someone else. Really providential, I
consider; it must have been a happy release for poor Sir John."
"He was plain Mr. Chetwynd."
"Yes; but already very popular. It was exceedingly fortunate that he
did not get his baronetcy earlier, for had he done so, she would
probably have refused to be faithless."
"I wonder if he felt her desertion much?"
"The world says not; they had lived unhappily for some time before,
and the general impression was that he did not care in the least."
"But you spoke of her to him when he asked your consent to our
marriage?"
"Yes, Ethel, I did; I referred to it as delicately as possible, of
course. I believe I said, 'your early misfortune,' or something to
that effect."
"And what did he say?"
"Well, he spoke very nicely; he said he was aware that it added to
the disparity between a man in his position and my daughter."
"And you?"
"I believe I replied that because a bad woman had caused him misery
and suffering in the past, it was no reason why he should not win and
hold the love of a good girl, and that because of the sorrow he had
endured, I felt the more assured in trusting my child's happiness
into his keeping."
"That was sweet of you, mother; but did it not occur to you that
there was just--a little risk?"
"How?"
"I don't think that John is a man who would forget easily."
"Good Heavens, child! what do you mean? you cannot doubt the
sincerity of his protestations of affection for you, surely?"
|