Fanny Mere returned to the conservatory, and absently resumed her
employment among the flowers. On what evil errand had the doctor left
the cottage? And, why, on this occasion, had he taken the master with
him?
The time had been when Fanny might have tried to set these questions at
rest by boldly following the two gentlemen to Paris; trusting to her
veil, to her luck, and to the choice of a separate carriage in the
train, to escape notice. But, although her ill-judged interference with
the domestic affairs of Lady Harry had been forgiven, she had not been
received again into favour unreservedly. Conditions were imposed, which
forbade her to express any opinion on her master's conduct, and which
imperatively ordered her to leave the protection of her mistress--if
protection was really needed--in his lordship's competent hands. "I
gratefully appreciate your kind intentions," Iris had said, with her
customary tenderness of regard for the feelings of others; "but I never
wish to hear again of Mr. Vimpany, or of the strange suspicions which
he seems to excite in your mind." Still as gratefully devoted to Iris
as ever, Fanny viewed the change in my lady's way of thinking as one of
the deplorable results of her return to her husband, and waited
resignedly for the coming time when her wise distrust of two
unscrupulous men would be justified.
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