It would have haunted me for ever had
I done so.--But it was there that I thought he must kill himself.
That was a terrible time, Lord Rufford."
"Terrible to poor Caneback certainly."
"Yes, and to all of us. Do you remember that fearful ball? We were
all so unhappy,--because you suffered so much."
"It was bad."
"And that woman who persecuted you! We all knew that you felt it"
"I felt that poor man's death."
"Yes;--and you felt the other nuisance too."
"I remember that you told me that you would cling on to my legs."
"Eleanor said so;--and when it was explained to me, what clinging
on to your legs meant, I remember saying that I wished to be
understood as being one to help. I love your sister so well that
anything which would break her heart would make me unhappy."
"You did not care for my own welfare in the matter?"
"What ought I say, Lord Rufford, in answer to that? Of course I did
care. But I knew that it was impossible that you should really set
your affections on such a person as Miss Trefoil. I told Eleanor
that it would come to nothing. I was sure of it."
"Why should it have to come to nothing,--as you call it?"
"Because you are a gentleman and because she--is not a lady. I
don't know that we women can quite understand how it is that you
men amuse yourselves with such persons.
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