When it did come, it was a bitter disappointment. It was stilted and commonplace. Netty regretted that her mother felt it necessary to absent herself from home, and she was very wretched because father was still far from well, although recovering slowly. He was in the hands of Dora Dundas, who had volunteered to nurse him; and it was "positively sickening" to see the way in which he and Dick allowed themselves to be led and swayed by Dora in everything. Mrs. Bent had at first consented to her engagement continuing, so long as Mrs. Swinton did not again make her appearance in New York until after the wedding. But, when she heard how rich Mrs. Swinton had become by the death of Herresford and the recovery of Mrs. Herresford's fortune, she changed her mind, and desired the marriage to take place as soon as the local scandal had blown over. There must be substantial settlements, however. A significant line came at the end of the letter: "Captain Ormsby has gone away on a three months' yachting cruise." There was little mention of the rector, yet Mary was burning with desire to know what attitude he had taken up toward her: whether he ever mentioned her name, or regarded her as an outcast. Netty gave no clue at all to the real state of affairs at home. CHAPTER XXXI DORA DECIDES "Dick, you are no longer an invalid, and it is absurd for you to pose as one." "Well, I feel pretty rotten, and I need a lot of attention. Come here, little one, and look after me." "It is absurd of you to describe yourself as weak, when you have a grip like that. Why, you positively bruised my arm." Dora made a great show of reluctance in coming to Dick's side. He sat in his father's arm-chair in the study, near the window, where the warm sunshine could fall upon him. "You are a prisoner, Dora, until you tell me why you have avoided me during the past few days." "Your father requires so much attention." "And don't I?" "No, you are getting quite yourself again, and rough, and brutal, and tyrannical." She looked at him indulgently, and made a little _moue_. "You know, we're engaged, Dora, and, when a fellow is in love with a girl with lots of money, like you, it's only natural that he should take every opportunity of being with his sweetheart. And he doesn't expect that same sweetheart to give him the cold shoulder." Dora drew forward a little hassock, and settled herself at his feet with a sigh. He bent forward, and looked into her eyes questioningly. "Are you quite sure my going away didn't make any difference to you, Dora?" "How foolish you are, Dick! That wretched will of your grandfather's made it necessary that I should marry you, and marry you I must, or you'll be a pauper. Father, who was opposed to the match at one time, is now all eagerness for it. I hate to think that money has any part in our marriage." "Never mind about that. Your father was all eagerness that you should marry Ormsby at one time, wasn't he?"