Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/69

Rh "Why?" asked Letty, in surprise.

"Because," said Miss Maywood, positively, "it 's so unpleasant to have people saying, 'What a pity—there is that sweet, pretty Gladys Maywood married to a medical man'—he is n't even a doctor—and Gladys cannot go to Court, you know, and it has really made a great difference in her position in London. Papa was an army man, and we were presented when we came out; but society has come to an end as far as poor Gladys is concerned. And although Reggie is a dear fellow, and I love him, I do wish he was n't associated with plasters and pills and that sort of thing."

All this was thoroughly puzzling to Letty, but she had realized since she came to Newport that there was a great, big, wide world, with which she was totally unfamiliar, outside of Corbin Hall and its neighborhood. She knew she was a stranger to the thoughts and feelings of the people who lived in this outer world. She glanced at "Reggie"—he had a strong, sensible face, and she could imagine that Mr. Romaine might well find help in him.

"Is Mr. Romaine very, very ill?" she asked.

"I don't know," replied Miss Maywood,