And yet, with all her resentment against him, and all her grim savoring of the scandal which he seemed to fear so much, there ran a golden thread of unacknowledged contentment in the conviction that those fears were all for her.
Outwardly she was callous to the last degree, reckless as on the day she made this marriage, and as light-hearted as it was possible to appear; but the excitement of the coming dinner-party was no small help to Rachel in the maintenance of this attitude.

It was to be a very large dinner-party, and Rachel's first in her own house; in any case she must have been upon her mettle.

Two dozen had accepted.

The Upthorpe party was coming in force; if anybody knew anything, it would be Mrs.
Venables.

What would she do or say?
Mrs.Venables was capable of doing or of saying anything.