Before half
an hour his wit was being quoted over the room. Other arrivals followed
this first. There was reason enough why Elizabeth should have dreaded
this dinner, for the guests in the drawing-room now had nearly all of
them been present at that wedding scene seven months before. She knew
when Katie Archdale came in. It was almost at the last. She was leaning
on her father's arm, her mother on his other. Both friends felt that
every eye in the room would watch their meeting. There was an
involuntary pause in the conversation; then it was taken up again here
and there, languidly, to cover the attention that must not be marked.
Katie had been into company very little since her attempted wedding; her
presence was almost a new sensation. As usual, she behaved admirably.
After greeting her aunt she slipped away from her father, and walked
slowly forward, on the way speaking to those she passed. Her tones were
mellowed a little by her suffering, but sweet and clear as ever, At last
she came to Elizabeth. They had not been face to face since that
December day in Mr. Archdale's library when Katie had turned away her
head from Elizabeth's pleading.
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