It was not until this transaction was accomplished that she realised how completely she had burnt her boats. The capital sum paid down must appreciably cripple her own income. Suppose that her worst fears were true—that Ninian had never loved her, and did not want her—what was she to do?
What would the rest of life be like, after she had made over the Pele to him?
She shut her ears to all such maddening thoughts. She was going to see him, or die in the attempt.
"_He has never got over your turning him down._" So Wolf had said. That might, however, easily be true, even though he had no spark of love for her. Had she accepted him, his home need never have been sold. Here was matter enough for regret from his point of view. It must be the loss of the fortune and not the woman that he lamented. Wolf’s lip had curled as he said, "You can have your pick of the fortune-hunters now. You’ll not find a man among them fit to tie up old Nin’s shoe-string." In her heart she admitted the exact truth of this.
As soon as she received Lily Guyse’s letter she determined not to see Wolf again for the present. She coaxed Aunt Maud to leave town, and they went to a hotel a few miles out, whence she could easily motor in and interview her lawyers. During the time that the negotiations were pending, she was in a state of mind so unlike herself that Miss Wilson confided to General Grey her wish that Olwen would take a fancy to somebody and marry soon. "If she doesn’t, she will be quite soured," said she with a sigh.
"Not that I know of. I always had an idea that there was something or somebody, but it was while she was staying away. There was a young doctor—it is possible she is fretting for him. I thought that very irresistible Colonel Guyse might have a chance, but somehow I don’t fancy he has made much impression. I suppose the poor child feels that everybody must be after her money."
"Oh, but she is attractive. She need not feel that. She is a girl who would always have had lovers."
"Yes, indeed, Mr. Holroyd would have married her long before anybody dreamed she would be rich. But I am glad she did not care for him. He is not the husband for her; she wants a more dominant person, for she is very wilful and impetuous."