So she did not throw the letter in the fire, or stamp upon it, or do any of
the frantic things she was tempted to do; she held it in her hand like a
common note, and said calmly.
"Who brought this? and when did, it come?"
"Last night, only I couldn't find you. It was nigh dropping into Miss
Gascoigne's hands, and a pretty mess that would have been. And I
warn you--you had better mind what you are about--Miss Susan
Bennett told me all about it; and a nice little story it is, too, for a
married lady. And Miss Gascoigne has scented it out, I'll be bound and
if Dr. Grey once gets hold of it--"
"Stop!" said Christian, firmly, though she felt her very lips turning
white. "You are under some extraordinary delusion. There is nothing
to be got hold of. Take this letter to my husband's study--it is his
affair. I have no communications whatever with Sir Edwin Uniacke."
Phillis looked utterly amazed. Though her mistress did not speak
another word, there was something in her manner--her perfect, quiet
conviction of innocence, self-asserted, though without any open self-
defense, which struck the woman more than any amount of anger
would have done.
"If I've made a mistake, I'm sure I beg your pardon, ma'am," began she
quite humbly.
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