We only came up, like you, for Flora's wedding, and go down to-morrow." "This is thrilling!" said Lady Highford.

"An unknown bride! Have you not even heard what she is like--young or old?
A widow always sounds so attractive!" "I am told that she is perfectly beautiful," said Lady Ethelrida from the other side of the table--there had been a pause--"and Tristram seems so happy.

She is quite young, and very rich." She had always been amiably friendly and indifferent to Laura Highford.
It was Ethelrida's way to have no likes and dislikes for the general circle of her friends; her warm attachment was given to so very few, and the rest were just all of a band.

Perhaps if she felt anything definite it was a tinge on the side of dislike for Laura.

Thinking to please Tristram at the time she had asked her to this, her birthday party, when they had met at Cowes in August, and now she was faced with the problem how to put her off, since Tristram and his bride would be coming.