Over this result she both rejoiced and lamented; but for the present the one idea most constantly and strongly present to her was that Lucia must pass by-and-by, only too soon, out of the sweet hopes and dreams of girlhood, into the deep shadow which continually rested upon her own heart.

She knew how youth, which has never suffered, rebels with passionate struggles against its first sorrows.

She lived over and over again in imagination her child's predestined trial.
But away from the unquiet household at the Cottage, there was beginning to be much gossip with regard to all these things, and many speculations of the usual kind as to the issue of Mr.Percy's undisguised admiration for the beauty of Cacouna.

Bella Latour was questioned on all sides, and finding the general thirst for information a source of considerable amusement, she did not scruple to supply her friends with plenty of materials for their comments.

From Maurice Leigh, no such satisfaction was to be obtained--the most inveterate news-seekers gained nothing from him.
A party of young people were collected one evening at Mrs.Scott's--a house about a mile from Cacouna, in the opposite direction to the Cottage.