She had told them that she was guilty of wounding Lot Gordon almost to death.

That they should now be rendered uneasy by suspicions, when she had given them actual knowledge, was something beyond her imagination.

She fancied rather that they considered Lot had treated her badly, or else that she had a longing love for Burr, and, perhaps, had herself broken off her match with his cousin on that account.

She strove hard to bear herself in such a manner that they should not think that.

She put on as gay a face as she could muster, and even took, beside the dress, a little blue-silk mantle to embroider for Dorothy Fair's wedding outfit, and sang over it as she worked.
Still, in a way, although her pride led her to it, her singing and her gayety were no pretence, for Madelon, through much suffering, had reached that growth in love which enabled her to see over her own self and her own needs.