"What a pity that Miss Wyllys should be so plain," observed Mrs. Creighton, whose husband had been a connexion of the Grahams. "It is the first time I have seen her for several years, and really I had forgotten how very plain she is."
"Plain, why she is downright ugly!" exclaimed the youth to whom she was talking. "It is a sin to be as ugly as that. No wonder Hazlehurst was frightened out of the engagement; I am only surprised he ever got into the scrape!"
"But Miss Wyllys is very clever and agreeable, I understand."
"Is she?"—was the careless reply. "I see Hazlehurst is here this evening."
"Yes, he came on with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Robert Hazlehurst, and myself."
"Well, he has a fine opportunity of comparing his two lady-loves together. Upon my word, I never saw a greater contrast. I wish Miss Wyllys had not accepted the invitation, though; she is enough to frighten one away from the whole set—and the rest are very pretty girls, the whole of them."
"Can you point out Mr. Taylor?—Not the groom; I have seen him, of course; but his father."
"Don't you know the boss? It is that tall, stiff-looking man, talking to Mrs. Stanley. You see he is trying to look very amiable."
"Yes—that is he, is it? Much the sort of man I should have supposed him. And now, which is Mrs. Taylor?"
"Mrs. Taylor—let me see; there she is, in grey satin and diamonds. I never saw her but once before in my life. She is a very quiet sort of a body, and keeps out of sight most of the time."