Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III THREE LETTERS MEANTIME, in the family hotel in New York, life became at the same time more exciting and also more depressing. Mrs. Todd declared that she was all in a whirl, and, although Isabel knew herself to be only an onlooker, she was also drawn into the eddy. There was endless shopping. Don Manuel called often, coming sometimes in a handsome motor car to take Mrs. Todd on some delightful expedition. Though Isabel was exceedingly lonely, she was glad not to be included in his invitations. She disliked him so intensely that she could scarcely greet him politely. This was, of course, perfectly evident to the Spaniard, and he responded to it by, in turn, disliking her. He was a small man with a swarthy skin, a huge black mustache, and black hair and eyes; and he spoke English with a strong foreign accent. Mrs. Todd frequently assured Isabel that the marquis was charming, and that it was only herpeculiar nature that prevented her from admiring her future uncle. For you don't like him, IsaBel, one little bit It's as plain as the nose on your face, and I can't for the life of me see why you don't? ?and Don Manuel has noticed it. He said only yesterday, s'd he, 'She don't like me, does she?' Of course I tried to turn it off. I said, s'l, 'Oh, she's only a bit jealous, that's all. She's awful fond of me and it's only natural she should be a bit jealous. It'll pass off all right when she gets used to the thought of me marrying again.' But it's not like you, Isabel child, and I don't know what to make of it. Of course, I feel bad myself about giving you up entirely, but those things have to happen. It isn't as bad as if I was to die and leave you that way, is it now ? Come now, you cheer up and make the best of things. She said it kindly and Isabel was to...