this young lady had not a father alive, and whether it was not probable his marrying a second wife might be the cause of her misfortunes; but before there was time for an answer, David said, "I think, madam, you mentioned her brother: he possibly may have treated her in such a manner as to make her hate her own country, and endeavour to change the scene, in hopes to abate her misery."
In short, every one guessed at some reason or other for a woman of Isabelle's quality leading a life so unsuitable to the station fortune had placed her in.
The Marquis de Stainville's sister, although at this time she would have made it greatly her choice to have been quite alone; yet, as she had always had a great liking to Cynthia's company, would not refuse to see her. Their conversation turned chiefly on indifferent things; for Cynthia would not so far transgress the rules of good breeding as to ask her any questions concerning her own affairs; but in the midst of their discourse she often observed tears to flow from Isabelle's eyes, though she used her utmost endeavours to conceal them.
David waited with great impatience while Cynthia was with Isabelle, in hopes, at her return, to learn whether or no it would be in his power to gratify his favourite passion (of doing good) on this occasion; but when Cynthia informed him it was impossible as yet, without exceeding all bounds of good manners, to know any occurrences that had happened to Isabelle, he grew very uneasy, and could not forbear reflecting on the tyranny of custom, which often subjects the unfortunate to bear their miseries, because her severe laws will neither suffer them to lay open their distresses without being thought forward and impertinent, nor let even those people who would relieve them inquire into their misery without being called by the world madly curious or ridiculously meddling. Whereas he thought
