She turned and looked at him as he towered by her side--looked at him
with a queer smile.
"Yes," she answered, "I think so."
For some moments they remained thus without speaking--in a peaceful
silence. Although the room was very large, it was peaceful. What is it,
by the way, that brings peace to the atmosphere of a room, of a whole
house sometimes? It can only be something in the individuality of some
person in it. We talk glibly of the comfort of being settled--the
peacefulness, the restfulness of it. Some people, it would appear, are
always settled--of settled convictions, settled mind, settled purpose.
Paul Howard Alexis was perhaps such a person.
At all events, the girl sitting in the low chair by his side seemed to
be under some such influence, seemed to have escaped the unrest which is
said to live in palaces.
When she spoke it was with a quiet voice, as one having plenty of time
and leisure.
"Where have you been?" she asked practically. Maggie was always
practical.
"To the Lanovitches', where we met the Baron de Chauxville."
"Ah!"
"Why--ah?"
"Because I dislike the Baron de Chauxville," answered Maggie in her
decisive way.
"I am glad of that--because I hate him!" said Paul. "Have you any reason
for your dislike?"
Miss Delafield had a reason, but it was not one that she could mention
to Paul.
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