“They have loved each other all their lives.”
“The Earl is delighted with the marriage.”
“He is the most devoted of lovers.”
And there was not a word of dissent from this opinion until pretty Sally McKean said, “A fig for your prophecies! George Hyde has loved and galloped away a score of times. I would not pay any more attention to his proposals and promises, than I would pay to the wind that blows where it listeth; here to-day, and somewhere else to-morrow.”
To all these speculations Cornelia forced herself to listen with a calm unalterable; and Hyde and Annie watched her from a distance. “So that is the marvellous beauty!” said Annie.
“Is she not marvellously beautiful?” asked Hyde.
“Yes. I will say that much. But why did she look at you with so much of reproach? What have you done to her?”
“That is it. What have I done? Or left undone?”
“Who is the gentleman with her?”
“I know not. She has many relatives here; wealthy Quakers, and some of them doubtless of the new order, who do not disdain the frivolity of fine clothing.”