Mary was longing, he was sure, to question him about Christina; but she
found a dozen reasons for hesitating. Her questions would imply that
Roderick had not treated her with confidence, for information on this
point should properly have come from him. They would imply that she was
jealous, and to betray her jealousy was intolerable to her pride. For
some minutes, as she sat scratching the brilliant pavement with the
point of her umbrella, it was to be supposed that her pride and her
anxiety held an earnest debate. At last anxiety won.
"A propos of Miss Light," she asked, "do you know her well?"
"I can hardly say that. But I have seen her repeatedly."
"Do you like her?"
"Yes and no. I think I am sorry for her."
Mary had spoken with her eyes on the pavement. At this she looked up.
"Sorry for her? Why?"
"Well--she is unhappy."
"What are her misfortunes?"
"Well--she has a horrible mother, and she has had a most injurious
education."
For a moment Miss Garland was silent. Then, "Is n't she very beautiful?"
she asked.
"Don't you think so?"
"That 's measured by what men think! She is extremely clever, too.
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