"
"You had asked her?"
"Yes;--twice. And she had refused him more than twice. I have nothing
for which to blame her; but yet I had thought,--I had thought--"
"She is a jilt then?"
"No;--I will not let you say that of her. She is no jilt. But I think
she has been strangely ignorant of her own mind. What is the use of
talking of it, Madame Goesler?"
"None;--only sometimes it is better to speak a word, than to keep
one's sorrow to oneself."
"So it is;--and there is not one in the world to whom I can speak
such a word, except yourself. Is not that odd? I have sisters, but
they have never heard of Miss Effingham, and would be quite
indifferent."
"Perhaps they have some other favourites."
"Ah;--well. That does not matter, And my best friend here in London
is Lord Chiltern's own sister."
"She knew of your attachment?"
"Oh, yes."
"And she told you of Miss Effingham's engagement. Was she glad of
it?"
"She has always desired the marriage. And yet I think she would have
been satisfied had it been otherwise. But of course her heart must
be with her brother. I need not have troubled myself to go to
Blankenberg after all."
"It was for the best, perhaps. Everybody says you behaved so well."
"I could not but go, as things were then.
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