“Oh, charming, Carrie!”
“And so becoming! I declare, Cal, even Espy Alden would find you irresistible in that!”
“Why not say Will? he’s to be here next week—coming home with Fred to spend the holidays. They’re college chums, you know.”
The light, joyous laugh that accompanied the words seemed to say that she considered him as already secured.
Floy heard it all, and a pang shot through her heart.
Espy Alden! her own Espy! it could be no other, for it was no common name.
Faint, giddy, sick at heart, trembling in every limb, she dropped into a chair and hid her face in her hands. She thought she had resigned him, yet oh, what anguish that another should have won her place in his heart!
No tears came to her burning eyes, but she was half frightened at the pallor of her face as, on raising her head again, she caught sight of it in a mirror on the opposite wall. She hastily drew down her veil to hide it.
The talk was going on in the next room, and every word came distinctly to her ear.