If Alixe had done her best to keep Gerald away, she appeared to be quite
powerless in the matter; and it was therefore useless to go to her.
Besides, he had every inclination to avoid her. He had learned his
lesson.
To whom then could he go? Through whom could he reach Gerald? Through
Nina? Useless. And Gerald had already defied Austin. Through Neergard,
then? But he was on no terms with Neergard; how could he go to him?
Through Rosamund Fane? At the thought he made a wry face. Any advances
from him she would wilfully misinterpret. And Ruthven? How on earth
could he bring himself to approach him?
And the problem therefore remained as it was; the only chance of any
solution apparently depending upon these friends of Gerald's, not one of
whom was a friend of Selwyn; indeed some among them were indifferent to
the verge of open enmity.
And yet he had promised Eileen to do what he could. What merit lay in
performing an easy obligation? What courage was required to keep a
promise easily kept? If he cared anything for her--if he really cared
for Gerald, he owed them more than effortless fulfilment.
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