"
"No, mother, that is no explanation. When I found that I should be
able to come down, I sent a card to Lady Tyrrell, saying I would
meet them on the race-ground--a post-card, so that Lena might see
it. When I came there was no Lena, only some excuse about resting
for the ball--lying down with a bad headache, and so forth--making
it plain that I need not go on to Sirenwood. By and by there was
some mild betting with the ladies, and Lady Tyrrell said, 'There's a
chance for you, Bee; don't I see the very fellow to Conny's charm?'
Whereupon that girl Conny pulled out the very stone I gave Lena
three years ago at Rockpier. I asked; yes, I asked--Lena had sold
it; Lena, at the bazaar; Lena, who--"
"Stay, Frank, is this trusting Lena as she bade you trust her? How
do you know that there were no other such pebbles?"
"You have not seen her as I have done. There has been a gradual
alienation--holding aloof from us, and throwing herself into the
arms of those Strangeways. It is no fault of her sister's. She has
lamented it to me."
"Or pointed it out.
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