"Yes, he does. Do not be deceived by his indolent manner, Crystal; he is full of all sorts of unexpected strong likings and feelings, in spite of his lazy look. Do you think I should be likely to fall in love with a stick?"
Anne made no reply.
"Do you?" said Helen, insistently, stretching out her arms, and adjusting the chains of topaz stars that decked their slenderness.
Anne leaned forward and drew down her friend's hands, holding them closely in her own. "Helen," she said, "tell me: do you love Mr. Heathcote?"
"What is love?" said Mrs. Lorrington, lightly.
"Why do you wish to know?"
"I do wish to know."
"Ward Heathcote is not worth my love."
"Is he worth Rachel Bannert's, then?" said Anne, touching the spring by which she had seen the other stirred.