"
"I thought not. People like you never do care. They fly in the face of
society; they--"
"Husband!" with a sort of wild appeal, the first she had ever made for
protection--for at least justice.
Dr. Grey looked up, started out of a long fit of thoughtfulness--sadness
it might be, during which he had let the conversation pass him by.
"The only thing I care for is what my husband thinks. If he blames
me--"
"For what, my dear?"
"Because, when I was walking in the college grounds, as any lady may
walk, that man, Sir Edwin Uniacke, whose acquaintance I desire as
little as you do, came up and spoke to me, or rather to Arthur. I could
not help it, could I?"
"No, my child," with a slight emphasis on the words "my child," that
went to Christian's heart. Yes, surely, if she had only had courage to
tell him, in his large tenderness he could have understood that childish
folly, the dream of a day, and the long misery it had brought her. She
would tell him all the very first opportunity; however much it pained
and humiliated her, she would tell her good husband all.
"And, papa, have I been naughty too?" said Arthur? "I am sure I did
not see any thing so very dreadful in Sir Edwin. He came up and spoke
to mother as if he knew her quite well, and then he talked ever so much
to me, and said if I would visit him he would give me a boat to row,
and a horse to ride.
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