Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/217

 gossip was his profession, the chance of adding so choice a morsel to his store was too tempting to be lost, so he said slowly, his eyes fixed on Farwell's face,—

"Why, of course you have heard of the new engagement,—your cousin, Miss Carleton, to Larkington, that English fellow? Well, everybody knew it a week ago, on the day of the picnic,—ah, what a pity you missed the picnic!—but to-day it was officially announced."

He paused and looked at Farwell as if expecting a remark, and Farwell, having nothing else to say, only answered, "Oh, indeed!"

Gray Grosvenor was disappointed; he had a right to expect something more than the ejaculation of "Oh, indeed!" It would not sound very thrilling in the telling. But then Farwell's face was a thing to describe; it had grown quite white and set. "And so," he continued, "Mrs. Fallow-Deer is giving a ball to celebrate the joyful occasion. You 'll