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Book, page 11 / 460 they had been when children much together, for the deanery was so close to Cecilhurst, that the shrubbery opened into the park. "But is it not rather extraordinary, my dear. Helen," said Mrs. Collingwood, "that you should see this account of your dear Lady Cecilia's marriage in the public papers only, without having heard of it from any of your friends themselves--not one letter, not one line from any of them?" A cloud came over Helen's face, but it passed quickly, and she was sure they had written--something had delayed their letters. She was certain Lady Davenant or Lady Cecilia had written; or, if they had not, it was because they could not possibly, in such a hurry, such agitation as they must have been in. At all events, whether they had written or not, she was certain they could not mean anything unkind; she could not change her opinion of her friend for a letter more or less. "Indeed!" said Mrs. Collingwood, "how long is it since you have seen them?" "About two years; just two years it is since I parted from them at Florence." "And you have corresponded with Lady Cecilia constantly ever since?" asked Mrs. Collingwood. "Not constantly." "Not constantly--oh!" said Mrs. Collingwood, in a prolonged and somewhat sarcastic tone. "Not constantly--so much the better," said her husband: "a constant correspondence is always a great burthen, and moreover, sometimes a great evil, between young ladies especially--I hate the sight of ladies' long cross-barred letters." Helen said that Lady Cecilia's letters were never cross-barred, always short and far between. "You seem wonderfully fond of Lady Cecilia," said Mrs. Collingwood. "Not wonderfully," replied Helen, "but very fond, and no wonder, we were bred up together. And"--continued she, after a little pause, "and if Lady Cecilia had not been so generous as she is, she might have been--she must
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