For I see by Miss Mary crying so you
have spoken to her, and so now she is safe to come to me for comfort; and
if she does, I shall take her part, you may be sure, for I love her like
my own child." Here the dogged voice began to tremble; but she recovered
herself, and told him she would go at once to her sister Gilbert, that
lived only ten miles off, and next day she would go to the little hotel
at the lakes, and leave him to part two true lovers if he could and break
both their hearts; she should wash her hands of it.
Bartley asked a moment to consider.
"Shall we be friends still if you leave me like that? Surely, after all
these years, you will not tell your sister? You will not betray me?"
"Never, sir," said she. "What for? To bring those two together? Why, it
would part them forever. I wonder at you, a gentleman, and in business
all your life, yet you don't seem to see through the muddy water as I do
that is only a plain woman."
She then told him her clothes were nearly all packed, and she could start
in an hour.
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