But it appeared to her she had done something; she had
tasted of the delight, if not of battle, at least of victory; she
had done what was truest to her plan. In the glow of this
consciousness the image of Mr. Goodwood taking his sad walk homeward
through the dingy town presented itself with a certain reproachful
force; so that, as at the same moment the door of the room was opened,
she rose with an apprehension that he had come back. But it was only
Henrietta Stackpole returning from her dinner.
Miss Stackpole immediately saw that our young lady had been
"through" something, and indeed the discovery demanded no great
penetration. She went straight up to her friend, who received her
without a greeting. Isabel's elation in having sent Caspar Goodwood
back to America presupposed her being in a manner glad he had come
to see her; but at the same time she perfectly remembered Henrietta
had had no right to set a trap for her. "Has he been here, dear?"
the latter yearningly asked.
Isabel turned away and for some moments answered nothing. "You acted
very wrongly," she declared at last.
"I acted for the best. I only hope you acted as well.
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