Jeannie was not attending to her particularly.
“Cousin, too,” she said. “He’s no more my cousin than Mrs. Collingwood is.”
“I am very, very sorry,” continued Miss Clifford, in the same low voice.
“Sorry?” said Jeannie. “My dear Miss Clifford, there’s nothing whatever for you to be sorry for. Please believe that. I’m delighted you should have the picture here—I am, really. But please be very careful not to repeat what Colonel Raymond says. I will see that he doesn’t. Good-bye. I must go after my aunt. Please cheer up. Does any one else know?”
“Colonel Raymond is rather fond of talking,” said Miss Clifford, faintly.
“So I should think.”
“He told Phœbe and me not to tell any one. And Mrs. Raymond was there, too.”
“Good gracious, how many more?”
“No one else,” said Miss Clifford.
Jeannie rose.