The illness isn't serious,' and Mrs.Willoughby laughed, with peculiar heartlessness thought Clarice.

They were, however, not thinking of the same individual.
Mrs.Willoughby, Clarice, and Fielding in consequence suffered some such change in their relative positions as is apt to take place amongst the European Powers.

Poor Mrs.Willoughby, in the innocent pursuit of her own ideas, had suddenly roused two former friends into a common antagonism.
These friends, besides, had much the same grounds for resentment as the Powers usually have, for Mrs.Willoughby's conduct was a distinct infringement of rights which did not exist.

Clarice and Fielding drew perceptibly nearer to one another; they exchanged diplomatic _pourparlers_.

Fielding found a great deal to praise in Mallinson, and Clarice had a word or two to say upon the score of widows.