Thegeneralconversationthusbegunwascontinuedbriskly，thoughitwasinthemainrestrictedtoMrs。HallandJapheth，whointruthrequiredbutlittlehelpfromanybody。TherebeingslightcalluponSally’stongue，shehadampleleisuretodowhatherheartmostdesired，namely，watchherintendedhusbandandhersister-in-lawwithaviewofelucidatingthestrangemomentarysceneinwhichhermotherandherselfhadsurprisedtheminthestable。Ifthatscenemeantanything，itmeant，atleast，thattheyhadmetbefore。ThattherehadbeennotimeforexplanationsSallycouldsee，fortheirmannerwasstilloneofsuppressedamazementateachother’spresencethere。Darton’seyes，too，fellcontinuallyonthegownwornbyHelenaasifthiswereanaddedriddletohisperplexity；
thoughtoSallyitwastheonefeatureinthecasewhichwasnomystery。Heseemedtofeelthatfatehadimpishlychangedhisvis-
a-visinthelover’sjighewasabouttofoot；thatwhilethegownhadbeenexpectedtoencloseaSally，aHelena’sfacelookedoutfromthebodice；thatsomelong-losthandmethisownfromthesleeves。
SallycouldseethatwhateverHelenamightknowofDarton，sheknewnothingofhowthedressenteredintohisembarrassment。AndatmomentstheyounggirlwouldhavepersuadedherselfthatDarton’slooksathersister-in-lawwereentirelythefruitoftheclothesquery。Butsurelyatothertimesamoreextensiverangeofspeculationandsentimentwasexpressedbyherlover’seyethanthatwhichthechangeddresswouldaccountfor。
Sally’sindependencemadeheroneoftheleastjealousofwomen。