The sound of hooves was heard, and a pair of cream-coloured ponies, with
a florid woman driving determinedly, came sweeping round the corner.

'What a strange person!' said Alice, watching the blue veil and the
brightly dyed hair.

'Don't you know who she is?' said Cecilia; 'that is your neighbour, Mrs.
Lawler.'

'Oh! is it really? I have been so long at school that I know nobody--I
have been anxious to see her. Why, I wonder, do people speak of her so
mysteriously?'

'You must have heard that she isn't visited?'

'Well, yes; but I didn't quite understand. Your father was saying
something the other day about Mr. Lawler's shooting-parties; then mamma
looked at him; he laughed and spoke of "_les colombes de Cythère."_ I
intended to ask mamma what he meant, but somehow I forgot.'

'She was one of those women that walk about the streets by night.'

'Oh! really!' said Alice; and the conversation came to a sudden pause.
They had never spoken upon such a subject before, and the presence of
the deformed girl rendered it a doubly painful one. In her
embarrassment, Alice said:

'Then I wonder Mr. Lawler married her. Was it his fault that--'

'Oh! I don't think so,' Cecilia replied, scornfully: 'but what does it