"Ruined Oscar!"
"And ruined myself, with him," added Selina, in reckless tones, as she took off her bonnet with a jerk, and let it lie in her lap. "I have contracted debts that neither he nor I can pay, thousands upon thousands; and the worry of it, the constant fear is rendering my life a—I will not say what—upon earth."
"Debts! thousands upon thousands!" confusedly uttered Alice.
"It is so."
"How did you contract them? Not as—as—Robert did? Surely that infatuation is not come upon you?"
"No. But that infatuation, as you call it, is in fashion in our circles just now. I could tell you of one young lady, whom you know, who amuses herself with it pretty largely."
"A young lady!"
"She is younger than I am—but she's married," returned Selina: and the young lady in question was the Lady Adela Grubb. "My embarrassment arises from a love of pretty gowns," she added lightly; for it was not possible for Selina Dalrymple to maintain a tragic mood many minutes together. "Damereau's bill for last season was between three and four thousand pounds. It is between four and five thousand now."
Alice Dalrymple felt bewildered. "It is not possible for one person to owe all that for one year, Selina!"
"Not possible?" repeated Mrs. Dalrymple. "Some of my friends spend double—treble—four times what I do."