CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The dinner for Ethelrida's betrothal resembled in no way the one for Zara and Tristram; for, except in those two hearts there was no bitter strain, and the fiances in this case were radiantly happy, which they could not conceal, and did not try to.
The Dowager Lady Tancred arrived a few minutes after the party of three, and Zara heard her mother-in-law gasp, as she said, "Tristram, my dear boy!" and then she controlled the astonishment in her voice, and went on more ordinarily, but still a little anxiously, "I hope you are very well ?" So he was changed then--to the eye of one who had not seen him since the wedding--and Zara glanced at him critically, and saw that--yes, he was, indeed, changed.

His face was perfectly set and stern, and he looked older.

It was no wonder his mother should be surprised.
Then Lady Tancred turned to Zara and kissed her.

"Welcome back, my dear daughter," she said.

And Zara tried to answer something pleasant: above all things, this proud lady who had so tenderly given her son's happiness into her keeping must not guess how much there was amiss.
But Lady Tancred was no simpleton--she saw immediately that her son must have gone through much suffering and strain.