Meanwhile, Maxwell was remonstrating with Mrs. Vyner upon the little desire she exhibited to be near him, to speak to him.
"We must think of appearances," she replied; "here every action is noticed and commented-on."
"But other men sit by you; you talk to them."
"Yes; as a blind. If I am seen much with you, people will begin to gossip."
"What if they do?" he brutally replied.
"What if they do! Are you indifferent to it?"
"You do not seem to be, at any rate," he said, sarcastically. "You have grown very respectful of appearances of late. You never thought of them with Mr. Ashley."
"Because I did not care for him."
"You looked as if you did; you acted as if you did; and every one supposed you did."
"But they were wrong. I was not careful then, because there was no danger of my committing myself. With you, it is very different."