"Oh, we mustn't be unkind, of course. But when a thing is notorious.
Take this young Brenner. His father's frauds ruined hundreds of poor
people. How can I receive him here, as if nothing had happened? It ought
not to be forgotten. He himself ought to _wish_ to live quietly!"
Diana gave a hesitating assent, adding: "But I'm sorry for Mr. Brenner!"
Mr. Ferrier, as she spoke, leaned slightly across the tea-table as
though to listen to what she said. Lady Lucy moved away, and Mr.
Ferrier, after spending a moment of quiet scrutiny on the young mistress
of Beechcote, came to sit beside her.
Mrs. Fotheringham threw herself back in her chair with a little yawn.
"Mamma is more difficult than the Almighty!" she said, in a loud aside
to Sir James Chide. "One sin--or even somebody else's sin--and you are
done for."
Sir James, who was a Catholic, and scrupulous in speech, pursed his lips
slightly, drummed on the table with his fingers, and finally rose
without reply, and betook himself to the _Times_. Miss Drake meanwhile
had been carried off to play billiards at the farther end of the hall by
the young men of the party. It might have been noticed that, before she
went, she had spent a few minutes of close though masked observation of
her cousin Oliver's new friend.
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