CHAPTER XXXI

THE TRANSFORMING OF DROOM





Jane was ill and did not leave her room during the two days following
the visit to the penitentiary. She was haunted by the face of James
Bansemer, the convict. It was beyond her powers of imagination
to recall him as the well-groomed, distinguished man she once had
known. Graydon was deeply distressed over the pain and humiliation
he had subjected her to through Droom's unfortunate efforts. The
fact that she could not or would not see him for two days hurt him
more than he could express, even to himself. The day before he left
for New York, however, she saw him in their parlour. She was pale
and very quiet.

Neither mentioned the visit to the prison; there was nothing to
say.

"You will be in New York next week?" he asked as he arose to leave.
His spirit was sore. She again had told him that he must not hope.
With an hysterical attempt to lead him on to other topics, she
repeated her conversations with Teresa Valesquez, urging him with
a hopeless attempt at bravado, to seek out the Spanish girl and
marry her. He laughed lifelessly at the jest.

"We will leave Chicago on Monday. Father will have his business