"But this shall interest you. You must be awaked to the affairs of the world—especially such an affair as this. You must be shaken up. This I suppose will shake you up. If not, you must be past all hope."
"What on earth is it?"
"Sir Francis Geraldine—! You have heard at any rate of Sir Francis Geraldine."
"Well, yes; I have not as yet forgotten the name."
"I should think not. Sir Francis Geraldine has—" And then she paused again.
"Cut his little finger," said Cecilia. Had she dreamed of what was to come she would not have turned Sir Francis into ridicule. But she had been aware of Miss Altifiorla's friendship with Sir Francis,—or rather what she had regarded as an affectation of friendship, and did not for a moment anticipate such a communication as was to be made to her.
"Cecilia Holt—"
"That at any rate is not my name."
"I dare say you wish it were."
"I would not change my real name for that of any woman under the sun."