It did not escape Gertrude's eye, and was not to her perfectly unintelligible.

She had conceived an idea--why, she did not know--that these recent tidings of hers would not be altogether agreeable to her sister.
'No, mamma, I have not told her; of course I told you first.

But now I shall do so immediately.' 'Let me tell her,' said Mrs.Woodward, 'will you, Gertrude ?' 'Oh! certainly, mamma, if you wish it.' Things were going wrong with Mrs.Woodward.She had perceived, with a mother's anxious eye, that her second daughter was not indifferent to Alaric Tudor.

While she yet thought that Norman and Gertrude would have suited each other, this had caused her no disquietude.

She herself had entertained none of those grand ideas to which Gertrude had given utterance with so much sententiousness, when she silenced Linda's tale of love before the telling of it had been commenced.