"How did you find it all
out? Did the child tell?--the horrid little--but of course she did. And
then you set on and watched me! That was a nice trick for one lady to
play another."
"You are mistaken," replied Christian, gravely; "I found this out by the
merest accident; and as I can not allow the child to do the same thing
again, I thought it the most honest course to tell you at once of the
discovery I made, and receive your explanations."
"You can't get them; I have a perfect right to walk with whom I
please?"
"Most certainly; but not to take Dr. Grey's little daughter with you as a
companion. Don't you see, Miss Bennett"--feeling sorry for the shame
and pain she fancied she must be inflicting--"how injurious these sort
of proceedings must be to a little girl, who ought to know nothing about
love at all--(pardon my concluding this is a love affair)--till she comes
to it seriously, earnestly, and at a fitting age? And then the deception,
underhandedness--can not you see how wrong it was to make secret
appointments with a child, and induce her to steal out of the house
unknown to both nurse and mother?"
"You are not her own mother, Mrs. Grey, it don't affect you."
"Pardon me," returned Christian very distantly, as she perceived her
delicacy was altogether wasted upon this impertinent young woman,
who appeared well able to hold her own under any circumstances, "it
does affect me so much that, deeply as I shall regret it, I must offer you
a check for your three months' salary.
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