Miss Van Tyne’s efforts to learn something concerning Ackland were apparently quite as casual and indifferent and yet were made with utmost skill.  She knew that Mrs. Alston’s friend was something of a gossip; and she led her to speak of the subject of her thoughts with an indirect finesse that would have amused the young man exceedingly could he have been an unobserved witness.  When she learned that he was Mr. Munson’s intimate friend and that he was aware of her treatment of the latter, she was somewhat disconcerted.  One so forewarned might not become an easy prey.  But the additional fact that he was almost a woman-hater put her upon her mettle at once, and she felt that here was a chance for a conquest such as she had never made before.  She now believed that she had discovered the key to his indifference.  He was ready enough to amuse himself with her as a clever woman, but knew her too well to bestow upon her even a friendly thought.

“If I can bring him to my feet it will be a triumph indeed,” she murmured exultantly; “and at my feet he shall be if he gives me half a chance.”  Seemingly he gave her every chance that she could desire, and while he scarcely made any effort to seek her society, she noted with secret satisfaction that he often appeared as if accidentally near her, and that he ever made it the easiest and most natural thing in the world for her to join him.  His conversation was often as gay and unconventional as she could wish; but she seldom failed to detect in it an uncomfortable element of satire and irony.  He always left her dissatisfied with herself and with a depressing consciousness that she had made no impression upon him.

His conquest grew into an absorbing desire; and she unobtrusively brought to bear upon him every art and fascination that she possessed.  Her toilets were as exquisite as they were simple.  The children were made to idolize her more than ever; but Ackland was candid enough to admit that this was not all guile on her part, for she was evidently in sympathy with the little people, who can rarely be imposed upon by any amount of false interest.  Indeed, he saw no reason to doubt that she abounded in good-nature toward all except the natural objects of her ruling passion; but the very skill and deliberateness with which she sought to gratify this passion greatly increased his vindictive feeling.  He saw how naturally and completely his friend had been deceived and how exquisite must have been the hopes and anticipations so falsely raised.  Therefore he smiled more grimly at the close of each succeeding day, and was more than ever bent upon the accomplishment of his purpose.

At length Miss Van Tyne changed her tactics and grew quite oblivious to Ackland’s presence in the house; but she found him apparently too indifferent to observe the fact.  She then permitted one of her several admirers to become devoted; Ackland did not offer the protest of even a glance.  He stood, as it were, just where she had left him, ready for an occasional chat, stroll, or excursion, if the affair came about naturally and without much effort on his part.  She found that she could neither induce him to seek her nor annoy him by an indifference which she meant should be more marked than his own.