There arose a singular coolness between the sisters at this time--a lover’s quarrel, as it were; and yet no quarrel, but a seeming hesitancy before some more perfect confidence. They were more affectionate than ever when together, but more apart, shunning each other, talking of trifles. Clara was conscious of this partial estrangement. In fact, it was almost wholly on her side. The high and careless spirits of her friend seemed to jar upon her. She seemed to long for solitude. Anywhere but at Newport in the summer, she might have indulged in lonely walks. There she was compelled to encounter the world and be gay with it. But she grew pale--they told her so. She said it was moonshine. And so it was--beautiful moonshine--sweet, melancholy pallor; but bloom was better. Sorrow, unmerited, came to her--sorrow such as even to herself she could not confess. The wish, the hope that she would not admit, for all its besetting sieges, would make her untrue to herself and disloyal to her friend. Disloyal to Diana--her rival! The first was as far from her thoughts as the last seemed unimaginable. No one could be the rival of Diana! CHAPTER XVII MR. BELDEN CONTEMPLATES VILLAINIES, NEW AND OLD Belden was the only guest at the dinner at Mr. Waddie’s in recognition of his care of Diana. It was a satisfactory affair to him, the principal actor. The to eat was good; the to drink sparkling; the to wit brilliant; the to woo he thought promising. It was not late when Mr. Belden reached the Millard on return from this fortunate occasion. They were hopping, reciprocating to the Nilvederes. There was tempting wealth of _étalage_, but Belden slipped through the side door and up to his room. He took from one of his double-locked trunks a small tin case, such as men who have securities keep them in. He unlocked the case and took from it a bundle of papers, old papers carefully enveloped. They were endorsed “Ira Waddy’s Letters.” Belden opened the parcel and looked at several of the letters. Some were signed “Ira Waddy,” or “Ira”; some “Sally Bishop.” They were such letters as some women exchange with some men, but such as only vile men and women write. Belden seemed to enjoy the tone of these epistles hugely.