Miss Penge whispered to
Miss Godolphin that Miss Trefoil was making the most of it; and Mr.
Morton, who had come into the room while the conversation apart was
going on, had certainly been of the same opinion.
She had seated herself in an arm-chair away from the others after
that conversation was over, and as she sat there Morton came up to
her. He had been so little intimate with the members of the party
assembled and had found himself so much alone, that he had only
lately heard the story about Major Caneback, and had now only heard
it imperfectly. But he did see that an absolute intimacy had been
effected where two days before there had only been a slight
acquaintance; and he believed that this sudden rush had been in
some way due to the accident of which he had been told. "You know
what has happened?" he said.
"Oh, Mr. Morton; do not talk to me about it."
"Were you not speaking of it to Lord Rufford?"
"Of course I was. We were together."
"Did you see it?" Then she shuddered, put her handkerchief up to
her eyes, and turned her face away. "And yet the ball is to go on?"
he asked.
"Pray, pray, do not dwell on it,--unless you wish to force me back
to my room. When I left it I felt that I was attempting to do too
much." This might have been all very well had she not been so
manifestly able to talk to Lord Rufford on the same subject.
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