"
"Thank you, dear mamma," whispered Zoe. "I think it was very rude and
unkind to liken me to a school-girl. I believe it was just because she
envies me my youth and my husband."
"Perhaps so," Elsie said, with difficulty restraining a smile, "but we
will try to be charitable and think the remark was not unkindly meant."
Edward took Miss Deane in to supper, which was presently announced. Zoe
did not like that, as Elsie perceived with some concern.
The young lady had very fine conversational powers and was very fond of
displaying them; she soon obtained and held the attention of all the older
people at the table, and Zoe felt herself more and more aggrieved. Edward
was positively careless of her wants, leaving her to be waited upon by the
servants.
When they returned to the drawing-room he seated himself beside Miss Deane
again, and the flow of talk recommenced, he continuing a delighted
listener.
Zoe feigned not to notice or care, but it was a very transparent pretence.
Edward had devoted himself so almost exclusively to her ever since their
marriage, that she could scarce endure to have it otherwise.
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