"Yes," she replied, "Barbara has a beautiful face. She is a fine creature too, although of course terribly spoilt."
"Have you known her long?" I asked.
"Yes; since she was a child. Of course you must notice, Dr. Halifax, the state of matters. Barbara's conduct is more or less the talk of the whole house. I presume from his manner that poor Mr. Carleton's chances of success are quite over, and for my part I am sorry. He is not rich, but he is a good fellow—he is devotedly attached to Barbara, and his abilities are quite above the average. Yes, I am sorry for Mr. Carleton. Barbara might have done worse than return his affection."
I did not feel inclined to pursue the subject any further with this somewhat garrulous lady. After a pause, I remarked:—
"Miss Farnham looks tired, and does not seem in her usual spirits."
Miss Derrick shrugged her thin shoulders.
"What else can you expect?" she answered. "Barbara is a creature of moods. She was quite exaltée all the morning; now she will be correspondingly dull, until a fresh wave of excitement raises her spirits."
At this moment the signal for the ladies to withdraw was given. After their departure, Carleton and Randall found themselves sitting close together. I noticed that neither man spoke to the other, and also observed that after a time Carleton deliberately changed his seat for one at a distant part of the table.
"CARLETON DELIBERATELY CHANGED HIS SEAT."