I say again, that such
conduct was not creditable to Miss Oakley. Of course, one could not
expect from a person like her the same decorum that was natural to you
and me in our girlhood. I do not believe you and William ever so much
as looked at one another before you were engaged."
A faint light, half tearful, half tender, gleamed in those poor, faded blue
eyes. "Never mind that now Henrietta. Consider Christian. It will be a
terrible thing if any ill-natured stories go about concerning poor dear
Christian."
"It will, and therefore I am determined, for your brother's sake, to sift
the story to the very bottom. In fact, I think--to end all doubt--I shall
put the direct question myself to Sir Edwin Uniacke."
Speak of the--But it would not be fair to quote the familiar proverb
against the young man who appeared that instant standing at the
wicket-gate.
"Well, I never knew such a coincidence," cried Miss Grey.
"Such a providence rather," cried Miss Gascoigne. And perhaps, in her
strange obliquity of vision, or, rather, in that sad preponderance of self
which darkened all her vision, like a moral cataract in the eye of her
soul, this woman did actually think Providence was leading her toward
a solemn duty in the investigating of the past history of the forlorn girl
whom Dr.
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