She
herself had won Preston Cheney away from all rivals for his favour,
and Alice ought to be able to do the same with Arthur, after all the
money which had been expended upon her wardrobe. Senator Cheney's
daughter and Judge Lawrence's granddaughter, surely was a prize for
any man to win as a wife.
The Baroness, however, reviewed the situation with more concern of
mind. She realised that Alice was destitute of beauty and charm, and
that Arthur Emerson Stuart (it would have been considered a case of
high treason to speak of the rector of St Blank's without using his
three names) was independent in the matter of fortune, and so dowered
with nature's best gifts that he could have almost any woman for the
asking whom he should desire. But the Baroness believed much in
propinquity; and she brought the rector and Alice together as often
as possible, and coached the girl in coquettish arts when alone with
her, and credited her with witticisms and bon-mots which she had
never uttered, when talking of her to the young rector.
"If only I could give Alice the benefit of my past career," the
Baroness would say to herself at times. "I know so well how to
manage men; but what use is my knowledge to me now that I am old?
Alice is young, and even without beauty she could do so much, if she
only understood the art of masculine seduction.
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