'Oh yes, of course, I feel it; it is an immense relief. But they ought to have told me,' Althea smiled.
'I wonder at that too,' said Mrs. Mallison. 'It is rather bad of them, I think, when they must know what it would mean to you of joy. When did it happen, do you suppose?'
Althea wondered. Wonders were devouring her.
'It happened with you quite suddenly, didn't it?' said Mrs. Mallison, who breathed the soft fragrance of her solicitude into Althea's face as she leaned her head near and pressed her arm closely.
'Quite suddenly,' Althea replied, 'that is, with me it was sudden. Franklin, of course, has loved me for a great many years.'
'So he was faithless too, for his little time?'
Althea's brain whirled. 'Faithless? Franklin?'
'I mean, while he made his mistake—while he thought he was in love with Helen.'
'It wasn't a question of that. It was to be a match of reason, and friendship—everybody knew,' Althea stammered.
'Was it?' said Mrs. Mallison with deep interest. 'I see, like yours and Gerald's.'