CHAPTER II.

ookitinherhandandimmediatelyhurriedintoherownroom.Shelookedpalerandmoreagitatedthanwhenshehadfirstreadhermamma’sletter.Something—sheneverquiteknewwhat—revealedtoherbeforesheopenedthepacketthatitcontainedthenecklaceshehadjustpartedwith.Underneaththepaperitwaswrappedinacambrichandkerchief,andwithinthiswasascrapoftorn-offnote-paper,onwhichwaswrittenwithapencil,inclearbutrapidhandwriting—“AstrangerwhohasfoundMissHarleth’snecklacereturnsittoherwiththehopethatshewillnotagainriskthelossofit.” Gwendolenreddenedwiththevexationofwoundedpride.Alargecornerofthehandkerchiefseemedtohavebeenrecklesslytornofftogetridofamarkbutsheatoncebelievedinthefirstimageof“thestranger”thatpresenteditselftohermind.ItwasDerondahemusthaveseenhergointotheshophemusthavegoneinimmediatelyafterandrepurchasedthenecklace.Hehadtakenanunpardonableliberty,andhaddaredtoplaceherinathoroughlyhatefulposition.Whatcouldshedo?—Not,assuredly,actonherconvictionthatitwashewhohadsentherthenecklaceandstraightwaysenditbacktohim:thatwouldbetofacethepossibilitythatshehadbeenmistakennay,evenifthe“stranger”wereheandnoother,itwouldbesomethingtoogrossforhertolethimknowthatshehaddivinedthis,andtomeethimagainwiththatrecognitionintheirminds.Heknewverywellthathewasentanglingherinhelplesshumiliation:itwasanotherwayofsmilingatherironically,andtakingtheairofasuperciliousmentor.Gwendolenfeltthebittertearsofmortificationrisingandrollingdownhercheeks.Noonehadeverbeforedaredtotreatherwithironyandcontempt.Onethingwasclear:shemustcarryoutherresolutiontoquitthisplaceatonceitwasimpossibleforhertoreappearinthepublicsalon,stilllessstandatthegaming-tablewiththeriskofseeingDeronda.Nowcameanimportunateknockatthedoor:breakfastwasready.Gwendolenwithapassionatemovementthrustnecklace,cambric,scrapofpaper,andallintohernécessaire,pressedherhandkerchiefagainstherface,andafterpausingaminuteortwotosummonbackherproudself-control,wenttojoinherfriends.Suchsignsoftearsandfatigueaswereleftseemedaccordantenoughwiththeaccountsheatoncegaveofherhavingsatuptodoherpacking,insteadofwaitingforhelpfromherfriend’smaid.Therewasmuchprotestation,asshehadexpected,againsthertravelingalone,butshepersistedinrefusinganyarrangementsforcompanionship.Shewouldbeputintotheladies’compartmentandgorighton.Shecouldrestexceedinglywellinthetrain,andwasafraidofnothing. InthiswayithappenedthatGwendolenneverreappearedattheroulette-table,butthatThursdayeveningleftLeubronnforBrussels,andonSaturdaymorningarrivedatOffendene,thehometowhichsheandherfamilyweresoontosayalastgood-bye.