And she was still buoying herself up with the thought that Guy's silence could not last much longer.

She was bound to hear from him soon.
She went to the Ball, therefore, feeling tired and dispirited, and looking quite _passee_, as her step-mother several times assured her.
She had endured a long harangue upon jealousy that evening, which vice Mrs.Ingleton declared she was allowing to embitter her whole life, and she was weary to death of the subject and the penetrating voice that had discoursed upon it.

Once or twice she had been stung into some biting rejoinder, but for the most part she had borne the lecture in silence.

After all, what did it matter?
What did it matter?
They reached the Town Hall and went up the carpeted steps.
Preston, in hunting pink, received them.

He captured Sylvia's hand and pressed it tight against his heart.
She stared at him with wide unsmiling eyes.