'
'Not false, that Eleanor cared not a farthing for Harry!' cried
Claude, shaking off Lily's arm, and stopping short.
'Oh!--she cared, she really did care,' said Lily, as fast as she
could speak. 'Oh! Claude, how could you think that? I told you I
did not mean what really happened, only that--Eleanor is cold--not as
warm as some people--she did care for him, of course she did--I know
that--I believe she loved him with all her heart--but yet--I mean she
did not--she went on as usual--said nothing--scarcely cried--looked
the same--taught us--never--Oh! it did not make half the difference
in her that it did in William.'
'I cannot tell how she behaved at the time,' said Claude, 'I only
know I never had any idea what a loss Harry was till I came home and
saw her face. I used never to trouble myself to think whether people
looked ill or well, but the change in her did strike me. She was
bearing up to comfort papa, and to cheer William, and to do her duty
by all of us, and you could take such noble resignation for want of
feeling!'
Lilias looked down and tried to speak, but she was choked by her
tears; she could not bear Claude's displeasure, and she wept in
silence.
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