Read "The House of Mammon" by Fred M. White online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The ivory pallor of Mrs. Sairson's face deepened, and she raised her hand to her heart as if conscious of some physical pain there. The beauty of the place, the wide sweep of the lawns, the deer in the park, all seemed to mock her. In a sense Marlton Grange was a prison. There were times when its very grandeur oppressed and saddened her. Hitherto she could console herself that the prison was her own. Escape might be impossible; but, on the other hand, it was not possible for others to get in. And here was the intruder she had always dreaded. He came in desirable shape--in the form that all mothers who love their girls pray for--yet he filled Mrs. Sairson's soul with dread. She marked the look of pleasure in Lugard's face, the keen delight and admiration of his eyes. She saw the flush on Nest's face, the smiling curves of her lips. She began to see with a startling clearness the hidden meaning of certain incidents when they had met this young man at Berne some time ago. Like all true women, she scented the delicate flavor of romance, but the mere suggestion of it filled her heart with terror.
"Mammy, aren't you going to say something more to Mr. Lugard?" Nest asked.