‘Mamma, mamma!’ said Lady Harriet, ’Mr. Preston did not wish it spoken about.’  And at the same moment Mrs. Gibson exclaimed, ’Cynthia—­Mr. Preston!’ in such a tone of surprise, that if Lady Cumnor had been in the habit of observing the revelations made by other people’s tones and voices, she would have found out that Mrs Gibson was ignorant of the affair to which she was alluding.

’As for Mr. Preston’s wishes, I do not suppose I am bound to regard them when I feel it my duty to reprove error,’ said Lady Cumnor loftily to Lady Harriet.  ’And, Clare, do you mean to say that you are not aware that your daughter has been engaged to Mr. Preston for some time—­ years, I believe,—­and has at last chosen to break it off,—­and has used the Gibson girl—­I forget her name,—­as a cat’s-paw, and made both her and herself the town’s talk—­the butt for all the gossip of Hollingford?  I remember when I was young there was a girl called Jilting Jessy.  You’ll have to watch over your young lady, or she will get some such name.  I speak to you like a friend, Clare, when I tell you it’s my opinion that girl of yours will get herself into some more mischief yet before she’s safely married.  Not that I care one straw for Mr. Preston’s feelings.  I don’t even know if he’s got feelings or not; but I know what is becoming in a young woman, and jilting is not.  And now you may both go away, and send Bradley to me, for I’m tired, and want to have a little sleep.’

’Indeed, Lady Cumnor—­will you believe me?—­I do not think Cynthia was ever engaged to Mr. Preston.  There was an old flirtation.  I was afraid—­’

‘Ring the bell for Bradley,’ said Lady Cumnor, wearily:  her eyes closed.  Lady Harriet had too much experience of her mother’s moods not to lead Mrs. Gibson away almost by main force, she protesting all the while that she did not think there was any truth in the statement, though it was dear Lady Cumnor that said it.

Once in her own room, Lady Harriet said, ’Now, Clare, I’ll tell you all about it; and I think you’ll have to believe it, for it was Mr Preston himself who told me.  I heard of a great commotion in Hollingford about Mr. Preston; and I met him riding out, and asked him what it was all about; he did not want to speak about it, evidently.  No man does, I suppose, when he’s been jilted; and he made both papa and me promise not to tell; but papa did—­and that’s what mamma has for a foundation; you see, a really good one.’

’But Cynthia is engaged to another man—­she really is.  And another—­a very good match indeed—­has just been offering to her in London.  Mr. Preston is always at the root of mischief.’

’Nay!  I do think in this case it must be that pretty Miss Cynthia of yours who has drawn on one man to be engaged to her,—­not to say two,—­ and another to make her an offer.  I can’t endure Mr. Preston, but I think it’s rather hard to accuse him of having called up the rivals, who are, I suppose, the occasion of his being jilted.’