To a fellow like him, a veteran
scamp like old Vivian, with his benignant looks, is ten times more
dangerous than men of his own age. However, having done the damage,
they seem to have thrown him off. Miss Vivian would not speak to
him at the ball."
"Eleonora! I don't know how to think it!"
"What you cannot _think_, a Vivian can _do_ and does!" said Raymond,
bitterly. "My belief is that he was decoyed into being fleeced by
the father, and now they have done their worst, he is cast off. He
came home with us, but sat outside, and I could not get a word out
of him."
"I hope my mother may."
"If he be not too far gone for her. I always did expect some such
termination, but not with this addition."
"I don't understand it now--Lena!"
"I only wonder at your surprise. The girl has been estranged from
us all for a long time. If it is at an end, so much the better. I
only wish we were none of us ever to see the face of one of them
again."
Julius knew from his wife that there were hopes for Raymond, but of
course he might not speak, and he was revolving these words, which
had a vehemence unlike the wont of the speaker, when he was startled
by Raymond's saying, "Julius, you were right.
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