So fit and natural had the presence of Ida under her roof already come to
seem, that she found herself half-forgetting, at times, the astounding
and tragic circumstances to which it was due.
Absorbed in the wonder and happiness of her own experience, Miss
Ludington had barely given a thought to Paul during the day. Having been
constantly with Ida she had not, indeed, seen him, save at table, and had
failed to take note of his wobegone appearance. At any other time it
would have aroused her solicitude; but it was not strange that on this
day she should have had no thought save for herself and her other self.
It had, indeed, been a day of strangely mingled emotions for Paul.
Supposing a lover were separated from his mistress, and that the
privilege of being with her, and spending his days in sight of her, were
offered him by some fairy, but only on condition that all memory of him
should be blotted from her mind, and that she should see in him merely a
stranger--is it probable, however great might be the desire of such a
lover to behold his mistress, that he would consent to gratify it on
these terms?
But it was with Paul as if he had done just this.
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