es, and was by no means inclined to make herself ridiculous; Rhoda
Nunn, of all women, seemed the least likely to make remarks, or put
questions, such as would endanger a betrayal of the buried past. Yet,
at a later time, when pressing the inquiry whether Rhoda had ever been
in love, Mary did not scruple to suggest that her own knowledge in that
direction was complete. She did it in lightness of heart, secure under
the protection of her forty years. Rhoda, of course, understood her as
referring to Everard.

So the quarrel was one of jealousy. But no sooner had it taken place
when Mary Barfoot experienced a shame, a distress, which in truth
signified the completion of self-conquest. She thought herself ashamed
of being angry where anger was uncalled for; in reality, she chastised
herself for the last revival of a conflict practically over and done
with so many years ago. And on this very account, precisely because she
was deceiving herself as to her state of mind, she prolonged the
painful situation. She said to herself that Rhoda had behaved so
wrongly that displeasure was justified, that to make up the quarrel at
once would be unwise, for Miss Nunn needed a little discipline. This
insistence upon the side issue helped her to disregard the main one,
and when at length she offered Rhoda the kiss of reconcilement, that
also signified something other than was professed. It meant a hope that
Rhoda might know the happiness which to her friend had been denied.

Everard's announcement of his passion for Miss Nunn seemed to Mary a
well-calculated piece of boldness. If he seriously sought Rhoda for his
wife, this frank avowal of the desire before a third person might
remove some of the peculiar difficulties of the case. Whether willing
or not to be wooed, Rhoda, in mere consistency with her pronounced
opinions, must needs maintain a scornful silence on the subject of
Everard's love-making; by assailing this proud reserve, this dignity
which perchance had begun to burden its supporter, Everard made
possible, if not inevitable, a discussion of his suit between the two
women. She who talks of her lover will be led to think of him.

Miss Barfoot knew not whether to hope for the marriage of this strange
pair. She was distrustful of her cousin, found it hard to imagine him a
loyal husband, and could not be sure whether Rhoda's qualities were
such as would ultimately retain or repel him. She inclined to think
this wooing a mere capri