The cause of
their amusement was ostensibly the talking over of yesterday's fete,
but the laughing was more than adequate, even to the wonderful
collection of odd speeches and adventures which were detailed. Emily
and Jane could not guess what had come to Lily, and thought her
merriment very ill-placed. Yet, in justice to Lily, it must be said
that her joy no longer made her wild and thoughtless. There was
something guarded and subdued about her, which made Claude reflect
how different she was from the untamed girl of last summer, who could
not be happy without a sort of intoxication.
The ladies returned to the drawing-room, where Ada now appeared for
the first time, and while they were congratulating her Mr. Mohun
summoned Eleanor away. Jane followed at a safe distance to see where
they went. They shut themselves into the study, and Jane, now
meeting Maurice, went into the garden with him. 'It must be coming
now,' said she; 'oh! there are William and Claude talking under the
plane-tree.'
'Claude has his cunning smile on,' said Maurice.
'No wonder,' said Jane, 'it is very absurd. I daresay William will
hardly ever come home now. One comfort is, they will see I was right
from the first.
Pages:
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382