Now she
was supposed to be convalescent, but Mrs. Carbuncle had returned to her
former ways of affection. No doubt there was cause for this--cause that
was patent to Lizzie herself. Lady Glencora Palliser had called, which
thing alone was felt by Lizzie to alter her position altogether. And then,
though her diamonds were gone, and though the thieves who had stolen them
were undoubtedly aware of her secret as to the first robbery, though she
had herself told that secret to Lord George, whom she had not seen since
she had done so, in spite of all these causes for trouble, she had of late
gradually found herself to be emerging from the state of despondency into
which she had fallen while the diamonds were in her own custody. She knew
that she was regaining her ascendancy; and therefore when Mrs. Carbuncle
came to tell her of the grievous things which had been said down-stairs
between Sir Griffin and his mistress, and to consult her as to the future,
Lizzie was not surprised.
"I suppose the meaning of it is that the match must be off," said Lizzie.
"Oh, dear, no; pray don't say anything so horrid after all that I have
gone through.
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