Those who knew her best, were always something in doubt as to which
of her stories contained truth and which romance. The latter element
mingled largely, it is presumed, in all of them.
A great change had taken place in the Captain's manner. He no longer
played the lover to a cold and distant mistress, but carried himself
haughtily at times--captiously at times--and always with an air of
indifference. All affection seemed transferred to his boy, who was
growing self-willed, passionate, and daring. These qualities were
never repressed by his father, but rather encouraged and
strengthened. On learning that his next heir was a daughter, he
expressed impatience, and muttered something about its being
strangled at birth. The nurse said that he never deigned even to
look at it while she was in the house.
The beautiful young wife showed signs of change, also. Much of the
old sweetness had left her mouth, which was calmer and graver. Her
manner towards Captain Allen, noted before, was of the same quiet,
distant character, but more strongly marked. It was plain that she
had no love for him.
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