To listen to her chatterings, to evade her questionings would, under existing circumstances, amount to a daily trial from which the young girl felt thankful to escape.

For Damaris entertained a conviction the circumstances in question would call for fortitude and resource of an order unknown, alike in their sternness and their liberality of idea, to Theresa's narrowly High Anglican and academic standards of thought and conduct.

She therefore ascertained from her informant that Miss Verity had been as actively instrumental in the vanishing--had, to be explicit, taken "Miss Bilson, and all her luggage (such a collection!) except two disgraceful old tin boxes which were to be forwarded by the carrier, away with her in her own Marychurch fly."-- And at this Damaris left the business willingly enough, secure that if tender-hearted Aunt Felicia was party to the removal, it would very surely be effected with due regard to appearances and as slight damage to "feelings" as could well be.
Later Sir Charles referred briefly to the subject, adding: "When you require another lady-in-waiting we will choose her ourselves, I think, rather than accept a nominee of my sister Felicia's.

She is certain to have some more or less unsuitable and incapable person on hand, upon whom she ardently desires to confer benefits." "But must I have another lady-in-waiting ?" Damaris meaningly and pleadingly asked.
Charles Verity drew his hand down slowly over his flowing moustache, and smiled at her in tender amusement, as she sat up in a much lace and ribbon befrilled jacket, her hair hanging down in a heavy plait on either side the white column of her warmly white throat.

Her face was refined to a transparency of colouring, even as it seemed of texture, from confinement to the house and from lassitude following upon fever, which, while he recognized its loveliness, caused him a pretty sharp pang.