Frédérique was silent for a moment.
“Don’t you find Marie rather changed?” she resumed.
“Changed? Marie? No; I have noticed nothing. Why do you ask?”
“Oh! for no special reason; I was only thinking. Marie is always so busy just now, with one thing or another.”
“But so she has always been; she always tries to find something to do. Papa says I am the only lazy one in the family.”
Frédérique was silent; but inwardly she wondered that Lili had not remarked how lately there was something unusual about Marie, something excitable and nervous, so very different from her former healthy cheerfulness. However, she thought, perhaps it was only her fancy after all. [[157]]
“You know we are going to the Oudendyks’ this evening,” she said, to turn the conversation.
“Oh yes; you told me some time ago that you were invited. So you are going out again, eh? You have been a little blasé for a time, haven’t you? at least you were always taken ill after an invitation,” laughed Lili.
“Oh, I felt very ill at ease,” Frédérique answered frankly. “It was, you know, on account of that folly of Otto’s. But now that there is nothing more to do in the affair, I wash my hands of it. He ought to know best, eh? Anyhow, I don’t see the use of fretting because——”
She did not finish the sentence, and her eyes became moist, as an expression of haughty disdain formed about her mouth.