How Dr. Lacey blessed her for these words.
"But," continued Florence, "there is a singularly sad expression on her marble face."
"I never observed it," thought Dr. Lacey.
"What makes her sad?" asked Lida.
"That is a mystery to me," answered Florence. "Report [pg 111] says that she loved a Mr. Wilmot, who was engaged to her sister."
"Engaged to her sister!" repeated Mabel. "How strange! But won't it make trouble?"
"It cannot," said Florence. "Mr. Wilmot is dead, and it is whispered that Fanny's heart was buried with him. I should not be surprised if it were so, for Fanny has the saddest face I ever saw. It made me want to cry when I looked at her. I should have pitied her more, however, had she not been so well cared for by a Mr. Stanton, of New York."
Large drops of perspiration stood thickly on Dr. Lacey's forehead, and his hands, convulsively clasped, were pressed against his heart; still he did not lose a syllable as Florence continued, "I did not blame her for liking Stanton, for he would break half your hearts and turn the rest of you crazy."
"But the sister," asked all the young ladies, "how was she affected to think Fanny loved her betrothed?"
"Oh, that sister!" said Florence. "You ought to see her! She is beautiful beyond anything I can describe. She eclipsed everything and everybody."