'I thought of the face I had just seen so near her own. I was rendered dumb, as I felt my tenure of favour was too slight to risk offending her by further remark on a subject so singular; but I was pained, grieved, and bewildered to a degree beyond what words can express. I looked at her earnestly, and seeing her so pale, said:
'"Are you not well, Ida?"
'"Only in so far that one of those mysterious shudders which I feel at times came over me a minute ago."
'I am aware that she has complained of this emotion or sensation before, and that the best medical skill in town has failed to make anything of it.
'"The odour of those flowers has perhaps affected you," said I, somewhat pettishly thrusting aside a bouquet tied by a white ribbon which lay near her.
'"Oh no," she replied, "their perfume has always been a favourite of mine."
'They were stephanotis, and I have often heard it was a favourite flower with Beverley.
'"From whom did you receive the bouquet?" I asked, but something indefinable in my tone attracted her.
'"Vane—Jerry!" she exclaimed. "It was brought me by the gardener," she added, and her calm face and serene eye all spoke of one to whom doubt or further question would have been intolerable, and the fear of anything unknown. Did she know what I had seen, or suspect what was passing in my mind? It would seem not; and still more was I perplexed and startled on perceiving, as we rose to join Clare, Violet, and others who were proceeding laughingly to the croquet lawn, a gentleman's glove lying on the seat which she had just quitted.
'"Some one has dropped this," said I, taking it up.