Indeed, I know Camilla impressed on him that, for his mother's sake,
it must go no farther then, while he was still so young; and next
came our journey on the Continent, ending in our coming back here
last July."
Jenny remembered that Raymond's engagement had not been made known
till August, and Frank had only returned from a grouse-shooting
holiday a week or two before the arrival of the brides.
"Now," added Eleonora, "Camilla has made me understand that nothing
will induce her to let papa consent; and though I know he would, if
he were left to himself, I also see how all this family must hate
and loathe the connection."
"May I ask, has Frank ever spoken?"
"Oh no! I think he implied it all to Camilla when she bade him wait
till our return, fancying, I suppose, that one could forget the
other."
"But why does she seem so friendly with him?"
"It is her way; she can't be other than smooth and caressing, and
likes to have young men about; and I try to be grave and distant,
because--the sooner he is cured of me the better for him," she
uttered, with a sob; "but when he is there, and I see those grieved
eyes of his, I can't keep it up! And papa does like him! Oh! if
Camilla would but leave us alone! See here, Jenny!" and she showed,
on her watch-chain, a bit of ruddy polished pebble.
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