"
Halcyone attracted her immensely, her quite remarkable personal
distinction was full of charm, and, now in fresh and pretty modern
clothes, to Cora's eyes she looked almost beautiful; but why so very
pale and quiet, she wondered; and then, with a flash, she remembered the
news she too had read in the paper that morning. Perhaps Halcyone minded
very much. She decided rapidly what to do. If she did not mention it at
all, she reasoned, this finely strung girl would know that she guessed
it would be painful to her--and that might hurt her pride. It was kinder
to plunge in and get it over.
"Isn't it wonderful about Mr. Derringham and Cecilia Cricklander?" she
said, pretending to be busy untangling her parasol tassel. "She always
intended to marry him--and she is so rich I expect he felt that would be
a good thing. Freynie says he is very much harder up then anyone knows."
Her kind, common sense told her that a man's doing even a low thing for
expediency would hurt a woman who loved him, less than that the motive
for his action should have been one of inclination.
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