Page:In The Cage (London, Duckworth, 1898).djvu/179

Rh criticism. 'Lady Bradeen is re-arranging—she's going to be married.'

'Married?' The girl echoed it ever so softly, but there it was at last.

'Didn't you know it?'

She summoned all her sturdiness. 'No, she hasn't told me.'

'And her friends—haven't they?'

'I haven't seen any of them lately. I'm not so fortunate as you.'

Mrs. Jordan gathered herself. 'Then you haven't even heard of Lord Bradeen's death?'

Her comrade, unable for a moment to speak, gave a slow headshake. 'You know it from Mr. Drake?' It was better surely not to learn things at all than to learn them by the butler.

'She tells him everything.'

'And he tells you—I see.' Our young lady got up; recovering her muff and her gloves, she smiled. 'Well, I haven't, unfortunately, any Mr. Drake. I congratulate you with all my heart. Even without your sort of assistance, however, there's a trifle here and there that I do pick up. I gather that if she's to marry