I have not so many social pleasures that I should give up this one, just on account of a possible gossip about it." Silence would have been wiser.

Mrs.White did not speak for a moment or two; then she said, in a slow and deliberate manner, as if reflecting on a problem,--"You enjoy Mrs.Philbrick's society, then, do you, Stephen?
How much have you seen of her ?" Still injudicious and unlike himself, Stephen answered, "Yes, I think I shall enjoy it very much, and I think you will enjoy it more than I shall; for you may see great deal of her.

I have only seen her once, you know." "I don't suppose she will care any thing about me," replied Mrs.White, with an emphasis on the last personal pronoun which spoke volumes.

"Very few people do." Stephen made no reply.

It had just dawned on his consciousness that he had been blundering frightfully, and his mind stood still for a moment, as a man halts suddenly, when he finds himself in a totally wrong road.