She could not help wondering how all the world had become possessed of the knowledge that she had said good-by to her lover.

She considered if it were possible that Mr.Holland had spread abroad the account of her ill-treatment of him--he would naturally allude to it as ill-treatment.
The quick judgment of Ella Linton had enabled her to perceive how valuable to Mr.Holland was the incident of his rejection by Phyllis.
As a beginning of his persecution, its importance could scarcely be overestimated.

But it did not take Phyllis long to reassure herself on this matter.

It was, of course, Ella who had given the incident publicity.

She had done so for two reasons: first, in order that her little afternoon At Home might have additional luster attached to it by the presence of a young woman who had, in these days of a marriage market overstocked with young women (and old women, for that matter), thrown over an eligible man for conscience' sake; and secondly, in order that her At Home might have additional luster attached to it from the presence of the man who allowed himself to be thrown over by a delightful girl rather than refrain from publishing what he believed to be the truth.
Mrs.Linton achieved both the objects which, as a good hostess, she had in view.