"
Eustace and Olga stared, exclaimed.
"She suddenly made up her mind to accept an invitation from Mrs.
Borisoff."
"But--what an extraordinary thing!" pealed Eustace, who was always
greatly disturbed by anything out of routine. "She didn't speak of
it yesterday!"
Olga gazed at the Doctor. Her wan face had a dawn of brightness.
"How long is she likely to stay, uncle?"
"I haven't the least idea."
"Well, she can't stay long," Eustace exclaimed. "Ah! I have it!
Don't you see, Olga? It means Parisian dresses and hats!"
Dr. Derwent exploded in laughter.
"Acute young man! Now the ordinary male might have lost himself for
a day in wild conjectures. This points to the woolsack, Olga!"
She laughed for the first time in many days, and her appetite for
breakfast was at once improved.
In his heart, Dr. Derwent did not grieve over the singular events of
yesterday and this morning. He had no fault to find with Arnold
Jacks, and could cheerfully accept him as a son-in-law; but it was
easy to imagine a husband more suitable for such a girl as Irene.
Moreover, he had suspected, since the engagement, that she had not
thoroughly known her own mind. But he was far from anticipating such
original and decisive action on the girl's part. The thing being
done, he could secretly admire it, and the flight to Paris relieved
his mind from a prospect of domestic confusion.
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