Mrs. Plassy knew everything; was her daughter in the secret? If so, would she tell Cara?
The bare idea caused Letty to feel faint! the child had always been led to suppose that her father was dead; this fact, never actually stated, was nevertheless implied. She followed the two white figures with straining eyes, and a wildly beating heart, whilst her friend and Mrs. Plassy discoursed of hotels, and society. The latter lady pointedly excluded Mrs. Glyn from the conversation; her attitude was rigid, her glance expressed hostility, and disdain.
The miserable culprit realised, that she was meeting the eyes of a world, who was still crying shame upon her, and measured the amount of condemnation that awaited her in circles where her story was known. Of late years this fact had slumbered.—At last the tension and situation became unendurable, and with a murmured excuse she rose, and moved away in search of the two girls.
“How young she looks!” exclaimed Mrs. Plassy. Then, in reply to a glance, “I mean Mrs. Blagdon.”
“Hush!” with a horrified gesture; “I’ve not heard that name for years.”
“I suppose,” resumed the other, and her manner was aggressive, “she has buried herself at the farm, on account of the child?”
Mrs. Hesketh nodded.
“Does the girl know?” she asked abruptly.
“Not yet.”
“Ah; when she finds out that she is the only child of a very rich man, I don’t think I should care to be in her mother’s shoes!”