Her
conception of her prospective wealth was as yet very indefinite.
"So long as you haven't you shouldn't look as if you had. Have you
enjoyed your party?"
Catherine hesitated a moment; and then, looking away, "I am rather
tired," she murmured. I have said that this entertainment was the
beginning of something important for Catherine. For the second time
in her life she made an indirect answer; and the beginning of a
period of dissimulation is certainly a significant date. Catherine
was not so easily tired as that.
Nevertheless, in the carriage, as they drove home, she was as quiet
as if fatigue had been her portion. Dr. Sloper's manner of
addressing his sister Lavinia had a good deal of resemblance to the
tone he had adopted towards Catherine.
"Who was the young man that was making love to you?" he presently
asked.
"Oh, my good brother!" murmured Mrs. Penniman, in deprecation.
"He seemed uncommonly tender. Whenever I looked at you, for half an
hour, he had the most devoted air."
"The devotion was not to me," said Mrs. Penniman. "It was to
Catherine; he talked to me of her."
Catherine had been listening with all her ears. "Oh, Aunt Penniman!"
she exclaimed faintly.
"He is very handsome; he is very clever; he expressed himself with a
great deal--a great deal of felicity," her aunt went on.
"He is in love with this regal creature, then?" the Doctor inquired
humorously.
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