He had no difficulty in using that pretext, to account during the next few days, to the eyes of the inhabitants of the chateau, for a severity of physiognomy, a briefness of language, and a fondness for solitude, which concealed perhaps graver cares.

That pretext, however, soon failed him.

A telegram informed him, early the following week, that the suit had been finally decided in his favor, and he was compelled to manifest on this occasion an apparent joy that was far indeed from his heart.
He resumed from that moment the usual routine of family life to which Julia continued to impart the movement of her active imagination.

However, he ceased to lend himself with the same affectionate familiarity to the caprices of his step-daughter.

She noticed it; but she was not the only one who did.