‘Not at all. You will quite forget all about yourself and your fears when the time comes. You don’t know the exhilaration of a room full of people, all lights and music! That symphony will lift you into another world, and you will feel quite ready for “Men must work and women must weep.”’
‘If I can only begin—but oh! Miss Sandbrook, shall you be far away from me?’
‘No, I promise you not. I will bring you down, if you will come to Ratia’s room when you are dressed. The black silk and the lilac ribbon Owen and I chose for you; I must see you in it.’
‘Dear Miss Sandbrook, you are so kind! What shall I do when you have left?’
‘You are going yourself for the holidays, silly puss!’
‘Ah! but no one else sympathizes or enters into my feelings.’
‘Feelings!’ said Lucilla, lightly, yet sadly. ‘Don’t indulge in them, Edna; they are no end of a torment.’
‘Ah! but if they prey on one, one cannot help it.’
Rashe made a face of great distaste. Phœbe felt as if it were becoming too confidential to permit of listening, all the more as she heard Lucilla’s reply.
‘That’s what comes of being tall, and stately, and dignified! There’s so much less of me that I can carry off my troubles twice as well.’