Clara walked slowly to the door, her eyes resting curiously on the tall, motionless young lady who stood there with her arms full of flowers.
"Who are you?" she knowingly asked.
"I'm Bethany Maloney," the woman replied. "You are the new Mrs. Lewin, I guess?"
Clara grinned. "Yes," she said.
Bethany was too polite to gaze incredulously, but she could not altogether keep the dismay out of her fine eyes. "I believe we've met before, and I apologize for my behavior back then. I'm afraid. Bennet and I are old friends."
Clara glanced at her sharply. 'Yes, Bethany was obviously the entanglement.' She thought. She had a proprietary air, and the way she had said 'Bennet and I are old friends' was slightly self-conscious.
"How do you do, Miss Maloney. Bennet told me you would be calling," she said demurely.
"Oh, please, I hope you'll call me Bethany," the other woman said with a little laugh. "And you, what's your name?
"Clara."
