And , as for Romney , of course you can speak to him about anything you like except Lucinda . Oh , you innocent ! To ask him if he did n't think Lucinda was looking well ! And right before her , too ! Of course he thought you did it on purpose to tease him . That was what made him so savage and sarcastic . '' `` But WHY ? '' persisted Mrs. George , sticking tenaciously to her point . `` Has n't George told you ? '' `` No , '' said George 's wife in mild exasperation . `` George has spent most of his time since we were married telling me odd things about the Penhallows , but he has n't got to that yet , evidently . '' `` Why , my dear , it is our family romance . Lucinda and Romney are in love with each other . They have been in love with each other for fifteen years and in all that time they have never spoken to each other once ! '' `` Dear me ! '' murmured Mrs. George , feeling the inadequacy of mere language . Was this a Penhallow method of courtship ? `` But WHY ? '' `` They had a quarrel fifteen years ago , '' said Mrs. Frederick patiently . `` Nobody knows how it originated or anything about it except that Lucinda herself admitted it to us afterwards .
But , in the first flush XXXXX her rage , she told Romney that she would never speak to him again as long as she lived .
Frederick about before except if in of right since to