Perhaps he
included himself. He talked incessantly, not in
reality brilliantly, but with an effect of sparkling
effervescence which was fairly dazzling. Viola's
servants restrained with difficulty their laughter at
his sallies. Viola regarded Harold with ill-concealed
tenderness and admiration. She herself looked even
younger than usual, as if the innate youth in her
leaped to meet this charming comrade.
Jane felt sickened by it all. She could not under-
stand her friend. Not for one minute did she dream
that there could be any serious outcome of the
situation; that Viola, would marry this mad youth,
who, she knew, was making such covert fun at her
expense; but she was bewildered and indignant.
She wished that she had not come. That evening
when she went to her room she directed Margaret
to pack, as she intended to return home the next
day. Margaret began folding gowns with alacrity.
She was as conservative as her mistress and she
severely disapproved of many things. However, the
matter of the amethyst comb was uppermost in her
mind. She was wild with curiosity. She hardly
dared inquire, but finally she did.
"About the amethyst comb, ma'am?" she said,
with a delicate cough.
"What about it, Margaret?" returned Jane,
severely.
"I thought perhaps Mrs. Longstreet had told you
how she happened to have it.
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