"The fellow actually sent a couple of dozen."

She was not to be persuaded; her refusal puzzled and annoyed
Hilliard, and there followed a long silence. Indeed, it surprised
him to find how little they could say to each other to-day. An
unknown restraint had come between them.

"Well," he exclaimed at length, "I wrote to Patty, and she
answered."

"May I see the letter?"

"Of course. Here it is."

Eve read it, and smiled with pleasure.

"Doesn't she write nicely! Poor girl!"

"Why have you taken so to commiserating her all at once?" Hilliard
asked. "She's no worse off than she ever was. Rather better, I
think."

"Life isn't the same for her since she was in Paris," said Eve, with
peculiar softness.

"Well, perhaps it improved her."

"Oh, it certainly did! But it gave her a feeling of discontent for
the old life and the people about her."