But?--Darrell glanced at the lady beside him, and his busy thoughts took
a new turn. He had seen the greeting between Miss Lyster and Cliffe. It
was cold; but all the same the world knew that they had once been
friends. Was it some five years before that Miss Lyster, then in the
height of a brilliant season under the wing of Lady Tranmore, had been
much seen in public with Geoffrey Cliffe? Then he had departed eastward,
to explore the upper waters of the Mekong, and the gossip excited had
died away. Of late her name had been rather coupled with that of William
Ashe.
Well, so far as the world was concerned, she might mate with
either--with the mad notoriety of Cliffe or the young distinction of
Ashe. Darrell's bitter heart contracted as he reflected that only for
him and the likes of him, men of the people, with average ability, and a
scarcely average income, were maidens of Mary Lyster's dower and
pedigree out of reach. Meanwhile he revenged himself by being her very
good friend, and allowing himself at times much caustic plainness of
speech in his talks with her.
* * * * *
"What are you three gossiping about?" said Ashe, strolling in presently
from the other room to join them.
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