She believed that the actress was merely deluding Spencer for her own amusement and would never dream of marrying him . But one day the idea occurred to her that she might . Estella had always told herself that even if Spencer wanted to come back to her she would never take him back , but now , by the half-sick horror that came over her , she knew how strong the hope had really been and despised herself more than ever . One evening she was alone in the parlour . She had lit the lamp and was listlessly arranging the little room . She looked old and worn . Her colour was gone and her eyes were dull . As she worked , the door opened and Vivienne LeMar walked or , rather , reeled into the room . Estella dropped the book she held and gazed at her as one in a dream . The actress 's face was flushed and her hair was wildly disordered . Her eyes glittered with an unearthly light . She was talking incoherently . The air was heavy with the fumes of brandy . Estella laughed hysterically . Vivienne LeMar was grossly intoxicated . This woman whom Spencer Morgan worshipped , for whom he had forsaken her , was reeling about the room , laughing idiotically , talking wildly in a thick voice . If he could but see her now ! Estella turned white with the passion of the wild idea that had come to her . Spencer Morgan should see this woman in her true colours . She lost no time .
Swiftly she left the room and locked the XXXXX behind her on the maudlin , babbling creature inside .
air book brandy door eyes hope idea light voice woman