"As for Mr. Preston's wishes, I do not suppose I am bound to regard
them when I feel it my duty to reprove error," said Lady Cumnor
loftily to Lady Harriet. "And, Clare, do you mean to say that you are
not aware that your daughter has been engaged to Mr. Preston for some
time--years, I believe,--and has at last chosen to break it off,--and
has used the Gibson girl--I forget her name--as a cat's-paw, and made
both her and herself the town's talk--the butt for all the gossip
of Hollingford? I remember when I was young there was a girl called
Jilting Jessy. You'll have to watch over your young lady, or she
will get some such name. I speak to you like a friend, Clare, when
I tell you it's my opinion that girl of yours will get herself into
some more mischief yet before she's safely married. Not that I care
one straw for Mr. Preston's feelings. I don't even know if he's got
feelings or not; but I know what is becoming in a young woman, and
jilting is not. And now you may both go away, and send Bradley to me,
for I'm tired, and want to have a little sleep."
"Indeed, Lady Cumnor--will you believe me?--I do not think Cynthia
was ever engaged to Mr. Preston. There was an old flirtation. I was
afraid--"
"Ring the bell for Bradley," said Lady Cumnor, wearily: her eyes
closed. Lady Harriet had too much experience of her mother's moods
not to lead Mrs. Gibson away almost by main force, she protesting
all the while that she did not think there was any truth in the
statement, though it was dear Lady Cumnor that said it.
Once in her own room, Lady Harriet said, "Now, Clare, I'll tell
you all about it; and I think you'll have to believe it, for it
was Mr. Preston himself who told me. I heard of a great commotion
in Hollingford about Mr. Preston; and I met him riding out, and
asked him what it was all about; he didn't want to speak about it,
evidently. No man does, I suppose, when he's been jilted; and he made
both papa and me promise not to tell; but papa did--and that's what
mamma has for a foundation; you see, a really good one."
"But Cynthia is engaged to another man--she really is. And another--a
very good match indeed--has just been offering to her in London. Mr.
Preston is always at the root of mischief."
"Nay! I do think in this case it must be that pretty Miss Cynthia
of yours who has drawn on one man to be engaged to her,--not to say
two,--and another to make her an offer. I can't endure Mr. Preston,
but I think it's rather hard to accuse him of having called up the
rivals, who are, I suppose, the occasion of his being jilted."