"It is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard in my life!"
Margaret rose and held out her hand, and wished her good-bye.
"There is no reason it should not be known," she said, with a heightened colour, "though I think my sister might have told the story differently."
Lady Lyons shook hands with her, and the change in her manner would have been most amusing had any one been there to see it.
When Margaret had left the room a sudden idea came to the excellent woman she had left sitting there. She moved a little nearer to Grace and said emphatically,
"Tell me, my dear Miss Rivers, now do be frank with me. How did that dear, good Mr. Sandford take your sister's marriage? Was he angry?"
"He was furious," answered Grace. "It was very ridiculous of him, as he brought the horrible man to the house in the first place, so he is the very last person who ought to find fault."
"And, when Mrs. Drayton goes to Scotland, she does not mean going to stay with Mr. Sandford?"
"Of course not. In that case I shall not be able to go to her eventually."
"And it really was a great deal of money that she has given up."
"It was thousands," said Grace, "and I must say, Lady Lyons, I think it was very selfish, she might have thought of _me_."
"Because she does not care for money that is no reason why I do not. I _hate_ poverty."
"Most people do, it seems a very great pity," said Lady Lyons, feelingly, with a sigh.
"I do not pretend to be like Margaret, I do care for pretty things. I think I _love_ clothes," said Grace, reflectively; "and, what is more, I never intend marrying any one who is not as rich as rich can be!"
"I think you are quite right, my dear, quite right, and having no money of your own."
"But I have plenty of money of my own," and Grace opened her eyes very wide, "I mean I have as much as I want from Mr. Sandford, but I should like to be extravagant."
"Excuse me, my dear Miss Rivers, pray excuse me, but you are a little inconsistent, you say you have money, plenty of money, and then you are angry because your sister gives hers away."
"I have plenty for a girl, that is, Margaret gives me everything I want, but I should like to have a house in London, horses, carriages, to be able to throw away money, to feel really _rich_! Now Margaret always puts such a disagreeable question to me. When I say I want something, she says 'Can you do without it?' Why one never would buy decent clothes if one said _that_," and Grace gave a very heavy sigh.