"Well, of course you've heard that we got through," said Lady Parham. "For once Lady Kitty behaved herself!"
"You were lucky!" said Mary Lyster. "Lady Tranmore was dreadfully anxious—"
"Lest she should cut us at the last?" cried Lady Parham. "Well, of course, Lady Kitty is 'capable de tout.'" She laughed. "But perhaps as you are a cousin I oughtn't to say these things."
"Oh, say what you like," said Mary. "I am no friend of Kitty's, and never pretended to be."
Lady Parham came closer, apparently, and said, confidentially: "What on earth made that man marry her? He might have married anybody. She had no money, and worse than no position."
"She worked upon his pity, of course, a good deal. I saw them in the early days at Grosville Park. She played her cards very cleverly. And then, it was just the right moment. Lady Tranmore had been urging him to marry."
"Well, of course," said Lady Parham, "there's no denying the beauty."
"You think so?" said Mary, as though in wonder. "Well, I never could see it. And now she has so much gone off."
"I don't agree with you. Many people think her the star to-night. Mr. Cliffe, I am told, admires her."
Kitty could not see how the eyes of the speaker, under a Sir Joshua turban, studied the countenance of Miss Lyster, as she threw out the words.