And Sydney presently burst into her mother's room to pour out her
disgust and indignation against the heartless, ungrateful,
intolerable—-
"Only foolish, my dear, and left all day in the hands of a
flattering, designing woman."
"To let such things be said. Mamma, did you hear—-?"
"I had rather not hear, Sydney; and I desire you will not repeat them
to any one. Be careful, if you talk to Jock to-night. To repeat
words spoken in her present mood might do exceeding mischief."
"She speaks as if she meant to cast them all off—-Allen and all."
"Very possibly she may see things differently when she wakes to-
morrow. But Sydney, while she is here, the whole subject must be
avoided. It would not be acting fairly to use any influence in
favour of our friends."
"Don't you mean to speak to her, mamma?"
"If she consults me, of course I shall tell her what I think of the
matter, but I shall not force my advice on her, or give these Goulds
occasion to say that I am playing into Mrs. Brownlow's hands."
They were going to an evening party, and Lucas and Cecil came to
dinner to go with them. Cecil looked grave and gloomy, but Jock
rattled away so merrily that Sydney began to wonder whether all this
were a dream, or whether he were still unaware of the impending
misfortune.
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