“I wonder if the rector means Miss Birkett?” blundered Alick as his commentary in a low voice to Leam.

Leam turned pale:  then with an effort she answered coldly, “Why wonder at what you cannot know?  It is foolish.”

And Alick was comforted, because if she had rebuked she had at the least spoken to him.

The breakfast soon after this came to an end, and in due time the guests were all assembled in the drawing-room, waiting for the departure of the newly-married pair.  Here Edgar might have made some amends to the two bridesmaids whom he had neglected with such impartiality of coldness, such an equal division of doubt, but he did not.  He still avoided both as if each had offended him, and made them feel that he was displeased and had intentionally overlooked them.

Each girl bore his neglect in a manner characteristic of herself.  Adelaide showed nothing, unless indeed it was that her voice was smoother and her speech sharper than usual, while her smiles were more frequent if less real.  But then it was heroic in her to speak and smile at all when she was verily in torture.  Nothing short of the worship due to the great god Society could have made her control herself so admirably; but Adelaide was a faithful worshiper of the divine life of conventionality, and she had her reward.  Leam showed nothing, at least nothing directly overt.  Perhaps her demeanor was stiller, her laconism curter, her distaste to uninteresting companionship and current small-talk more profound, than usual; but no one seemed to see the deeper tinge of her ordinary color, and she passed muster, for her creditably.  In her heart she thought it all weariness of the flesh and spirit alike, and wished that people would marry without a wedding if they must marry at all.

She had not the slightest idea why she felt so miserable when every one else was so full of the silliest laughter.  It never occurred to her that it was because Edgar had not spoken to her; but once she confessed to herself that she wished she was away out of all this, riding through the green lanes, with Major Harrowby riding fast to join her.  Even if her chestnut should prance and dance and make her feel uncomfortable about the pommel and the reins, it would be better than this.  A heavy meal of meat and wine, and that horrible cake in the middle of the day, were stupid, thought ascetic Leam.  She had never felt anything so dreary before.  How glad she would be when her father and Josephine went away, and she might go back to Ford House and be alone!  As for the evening, she did not know that she would show herself then at all.  There was to be a ball, and though it would be pleasant to dance, she felt so dull and wretched now she half thought she would send an excuse.  But perhaps Major Harrowby would be more at liberty in the evening than he was now, and would find it possible to dance with her, at least once.  He danced so well!  Indeed, he was the only partner whom she cared to have, and she hoped therefore that he would dance with her if she came.