It was William who puzzled me. Instinctively I knew he was
not happy. Had I been instrumental in bringing about the match, I
should have felt disturbed, but as it happened, they pulled it off
without the slightest assistance from me. It is the best way. I am
steadily determined never to involve myself in matrimonial schemes for
any one in future. Even when The Kid gets old enough to have love
affairs, she will get my advice and sympathy, but no active
co-operation on my part.
But to return to William. Though he seemed plunged in gloom, Marion
was radiant. She gaily prepared her trousseau, and took William on
long shopping expeditions from which he returned more overcast than
ever. Sometimes I wondered if he had really got over his infatuation
for Gladys, and if he had merely proposed to Marion out of pique. A
strange foreboding came over me that all was not going well.
This was deepened when Marion came to me one day with her eyes red as
though she had been weeping.
'Is anything wrong?' I inquired, an instinctive fear gripping at my
heart. 'You surely haven't quarrelled with William?'
She shook her head. 'Can you imagine William quarrelling with any one?'
I could not. He is one of those comfortable people with whom you can
be perfectly frank and outspoken without fear of giving the slightest
offence. If I say to him when he is deep in a learned discussion with
Henry, 'Do shut up, William, I can't think when you're talking,' he
does not snort, glare at me, breathe hard or show any other signs of
inward resentment.
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