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to hear all about Angela's 〃things。〃 Of course they would stop for the wedding； but meantime she must be very discreet； she must not intrude too much。 Captain Lovelock addressed to Angela a few fragmentary； but well…intentioned sentences； pulling his beard and fixing his eyes on the door…knoban implement which presently turned in his manly fist； as he opened the door for his companion to withdraw。 Blanche went away in a flutter of ejaculations and protestations which left our three friends in Mrs。 Vivian's little drawing…room standing looking at each other as the door closed behind her。
〃It certainly would have been better taste in him to tell her；〃 said Bernard； frowning； 〃and not let other people see how little communication there is between them。 It has mortified her。〃
〃Poor Mr。 Wright had his reasons；〃 Mrs。 Vivian suggested； and then she ventured to explain： 〃He still cares for Angela； and it was painful to him to talk about her marrying some one else。〃
This had been Bernard's own reflection； and it was no more agreeable as Mrs。 Vivian presented it； though Angela herself seemed indifferent to itseemed； indeed； not to hear it； as if she were thinking of something else。
〃We must simply marry as soon as possible； to…morrow； if necessary；〃 said Bernard； with some causticity。 〃That 's the best thing we can do for every one。 When once Angela is married； Gordon will stop thinking of her。 He will never permit his imagination to hover about a married woman； I am very sure of that。 He does n't approve of that sort of thing； and he has the same law for himself as for other people。〃
〃It does n't matter；〃 said Angela； simply。
〃How do you mean； my daughter； it does n't matter？〃
〃I don't feel obliged to feel so sorry for him now。〃
〃Now？ Pray； what has happened？ I am more sorry than ever； since I have heard poor Blanche's dreadful tone about him。〃
The girl was silent a moment； then she shook her head； lightly。
〃Her toneher tone？ Dearest mother； don't you see？ She is intensely in love with him！〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
This observation struck Bernard as extremely ingenious and worthy of his mistress's fine intelligence； he greeted it with enthusiasm； and thought of it for the next twelve hours。 The more he thought of it the more felicitous it seemed to him； and he went to Mrs。 Vivian's the next day almost for the express purpose of saying to Angela that； decidedly； she was right。 He was admitted by his old friend； the little femme de chambre； who had long since bestowed upon him； definitively； her confidence； and as in the ante…chamber he heard the voice of a gentleman raised and talking with some emphasis； come to him from the salon； he paused a moment； looking at her with an interrogative eye。
〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 Vivian's attendant； 〃I must tell Monsieur frankly that another gentleman is there。 Moreover； what does it matter？ Monsieur would perceive it for himself！〃
〃Has he been here long？〃 asked Bernard。
〃A quarter of an hour。 It probably does n't seem long to the gentleman！〃
〃Is he alone with Mademoiselle？〃
〃He asked for Mademoiselle only。 I introduced him into the salon； and Mademoiselle； after conversing a little while with Madame； consented to receive him。 They have been alone together； as I have told Monsieur； since about three o'clock。 Madame is in her own apartment。 The position of Monsieur；〃 added this discriminating woman； 〃certainly justifies him in entering the salon。〃
Bernard was quite of this opinion； and in a moment more he had crossed the threshold of the little drawing…room and closed the door behind him。
Angela sat there on a sofa； leaning back with her hands clasped in her lap and her eyes fixed upon Gordon Wright； who stood squarely before her； as if he had been making her a resolute speech。 Her face wore a look of distress； almost of alarm； she kept her place； but her eyes gave Bernard a mute welcome。 Gordon turned and looked at him slowly from head to foot。 Bernard remembered； with a good deal of vividness； the last look his friend had given him in the Champs Elysees the day before； and he saw with some satisfaction that this was not exactly a repetition of that expression of cold horror。 It was a question； however； whether the horror were changed for the better。 Poor Gordon looked intensely sad and grievously wronged。 The keen resentment had faded from his face； but an immense reproach was therea heavy； helpless； appealing reproach。 Bernard saw that he had not a scene of violence to dread and yet； when he perceived what was coming； he would almost have preferred violence。 Gordon did not offer him his hand； and before Bernard had had time to say anything； began to speak again； as if he were going on with what he had been saying to Angela。
〃You have done me a great wrongyou have done me a cruel wrong！ I have been telling it to Miss Vivian； I came on purpose to tell her。 I can't really tell her； I can't tell her the details； it 's too painful！ But you know what I mean！ I could n't stand it any longer。 I thought of going awaybut I could n't do that。 I must come and say what I feel。 I can't bear it now。〃
This outbreak of a passionate sense of injury in a man habitually so undemonstrative； so little disposed to call attention to himself； had in it something at once of the touching and the terrible。 Bernard； for an instant； felt almost bewildered； he asked himself whether he had not； after all； been a monster of duplicity。 He was guilty of the weakness of taking refuge in what is called； I believe； in legal phrase； a side…issue。
〃Don't say all this before Angela！〃 he exclaimed； with a kind of artificial energy。 〃You know she is not in the least at fault； and that it can only give her pain。 The thing is between ourselves。〃
Angela was sitting there； looking up at both the men。 〃I like to hear it；〃 she said。
〃You have a singular taste！〃 Bernard declared。
〃I know it 's between ourselves；〃 cried Gordon； 〃and that Miss Vivian is not at fault。 She is only too lovely； too wise； too good！ It is you and I that are at faulthorribly at fault！ You see I admit it； and you don't。 I never dreamed that I should live to say such things as this to you； but I never dreamed you would do what you have done！ It 's horrible； most horrible； that such a difference as this should come between two men who believed themselvesor whom I believed； at least the best friends in the world。 For it is a differenceit 's a great gulf； and nothing will ever fill it up。 I must say so； I can't help it。 You know I don't express myself easily； so； if I break out this way； you may know what I feel。 I know it is a pain to Miss Vivian； and I beg her to forgive me。 She has so much to forgive that she can forgive that； too。 I can't pretend to accept it； I can't sit down and let it pass。 And then； it is n't only my feelings； it 's the right； it 's the justice。 I must say to her that you have no right to marry her； and beg of her to listen to me and let you go。〃
〃My dear Gordon； are you crazy？〃 Bernard demanded； with an energy which； this time at least； was sufficiently real。
〃Very likely I am crazy。 I am crazy with disappointment and the bitterness of what I have los