And, O Lord!
how he is being run after! He really has millions, you know; the mothers
are all at his traces trying to track him down, and he is as cheerful
and as unconcerned as you please.' Gerald suddenly smiled round at her
again. 'I say, Althea, don't you regret him sometimes? It would have
been a glorious match, you know.'
Althea felt herself growing pale. 'Regret him!' she said, and, for her,
almost violently, the opportunity was an outlet for her wretchedness; 'I
can't conceive how a man's money can make any difference. I couldn't
have married Franklin if he'd been a king!'
'Oh, my dear!' said Gerald, startled; 'I didn't mean it seriously, of
course.'
'It seems to me,' said Althea, trying to control her labouring breath,
'that over here you take nothing quite so seriously as that--great
matches, I mean, and money.'
Gerald was silent for a moment; then, in a very courteous voice he said:
'Have I offended you in any way, Althea?'
Tears stood in her eyes; she turned away her head to hide them.
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