What made it more annoying than it need
have been was his surmise that Lee Hannaford nursed rancour against
the Derwents, and would not lose an opportunity of venting it. In
the public congratulation of which Arnold spoke, there had been a
distinct touch of malice. It was not impossible that the man hinted
calumnies with regard to his wife, and, under the circumstances,
slander of that kind was the most difficult thing to deal with.
But in Irene's society these unwelcome thoughts were soon dismissed.
With the demeanour of his betrothed, Arnold was abundantly
satisfied; he saw in it the perfect medium between demonstrativeness
and insensibility. Without ever having reflected on the subject, he
felt that this was how a girl of entire refinement should behave in
a situation demanding supreme delicacy. Irene never seemed in "a
coming-on disposition," to use the phrase of a young person who had
not the advantage of English social training; it was evidently her
wish to behave, as far as possible, with the simplicity of mere
friendship. In these days, Mr. Jacks, for the first time, ceased to
question himself as to the prudence of the step he had taken.
Hitherto he had been often reminded that, socially speaking, he
might have made a better marriage; he had felt that Irene conquered
somewhat against his will, and that he wooed her without quite
meaning to do so. On the cliffs and the sands at Cromer, these
indecisions vanished.
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