"Who is that with him?" she asked, in a hurried whisper.
"Gladys, my sister," Aldyth said.
"Oh, Aldyth, what does it mean?" poor Hilda asked.
"Don't distress yourself," replied Aldyth. "Their being together has no particular significance, only I will not disguise from you that Gladys's society has a strong attraction for Guy."
Hilda burst into tears.
"Oh, Aldyth, and you would have me stay at Woodham!"
After that, it was not surprising that Hilda abandoned herself afresh to melancholy, sank back into a semi-invalid state, resolutely refused all invitations, and in a variety of ways tried the patience of her mother and Kitty.
It was a pleasure to Aldyth to welcome Nelly, and Cecil also for a few days, to her home at Christmas.
Gwendolen Bland, too, was at home, and despite the distance of Wyndham Hall from Woodham, she and Kitty were often with Aldyth and her sisters. The girls made a lively party together. Gladys and Kitty took to each other and became good friends. They often rode together, dispensing with the attendance of the groom, which Mrs. Stanton insisted upon when Gladys rode alone.
Mrs. Stanton was well pleased that Kitty should be Gladys's companion, for Kitty held herself haughtily aloof from Guy Lorraine, resenting his conduct towards her sister, so that despite his sangfroid, he could hardly thrust his company upon her.