Oh! it's my
abominable vanity; that's what it is. Aunt Jane always said it would be
my ruin, and so it will be--after this, you see, Rowley will believe
anything of me? Oh, Bella, what shall I do? I shall die."
"Well, my dear, it's the best thing that could happen to you if you are
going to behave in this absurd manner." Mrs. Chetwode saw that strong
measures must be resorted to; she quite intended reading Nina a lecture;
but the time to do so was not now. "There's no doubt but that you _have_
been imprudent, _very_; but if I am to help you it's not by letting you
sit there and cry."
"Wh--at do you wish me to do?"
"To dry your eyes and come down with me to dinner and chat away as we
always do. If your husband was going home Martin will bring back word
that he is there, or else he will come here and fetch you."
"You took the message?" Mrs. Chetwode asked as the two ladies descended
to dinner.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Really, Nina, I ought to have ordered a better dinner for you."
"Oh, I'm not a bit hungry."
"But you ought to be after going about so much as we have to-day.
By-the-by, how did you decide about that hat I saw; do you think it will
suit you? Describe it to me."
Forced to answer, Nina was trotted by her friend from one subject of
toilette to the other, until in the midst of a got-up argument
concerning trimmings, there came a thundering knock at the door.
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