" This sudden
thrust made Bartley wince, and showed him he had a tougher customer to
deal with than poor Mary.
"You can't bear to be found fault with, Easton," said he, craftily, "and
I don't wonder at it, after fourteen years' fidelity to me."
"I take no credit for that," said the woman, doggedly. "I have been
paid for it."
"No doubt. But I don't always get the thing I pay for. Then let by-gones
be by-gones; but just assist me now to cure the girl of this folly."
"Sir," said the woman, firmly, "it is not folly; it is wisest and best
for all; and I can't make up my mind to lift a finger against it."
"Do you mean to defy me, then?"
"No, sir. I don't want to go against you, nor yet against my own
conscience, what's left on't. I have seen a pretty while it must come to
this, and I have written to my sister Sally. She keeps a small hotel at
the lakes. She is ready to have me, and I'm not too old to be useful to
her. I'm worth my board. I'll go there this very day, if you please. I'm
as true to you as I can be, sir.
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