Nehal Singh, though promising to
investigate the matter thoroughly, had shown a distress out of
proportion to his responsibility, and it was understood that for some
reason or another, the subject was painful to him. On the other hand,
he had shown a lively and warm-hearted interest in Lois' recovery. She
had sustained little more than a severe shock, and he had been
constant in his attentions, as though striving to atone for an injury
he had unwittingly done her. The accident had also served to deepen
his interest in Adam Nicholson.
"That is a man!" he had said to Beatrice, as they had spoken of his
presence of mind, and his enthusiasm had rung like a last echo of his
old boyishness. "I can not understand why Travers seems to dislike him
so."
Beatrice had made no reply. She had her own ideas on the matter,
having a quick eye for expressions, and she knew that the news of
Lois' engagement had been a shock both to Nicholson and to the
Carmichaels. Travers was one of those men whom the world receives with
open arms in society, but repudiates at the entrance to the family
circle; and of this fact Travers himself was bitterly conscious. And,
on the other hand, there was Nicholson, the accepted and cherished
friend, to whom the world looked with unreserved respect and deserved
admiration. It was not altogether surprising that the two men had
little in common, and on Travers' side there was added a certain
amount of satisfied spite.
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