Chapter II

           ’Itisonefact,sir,thatIamawidow,’shesaid.’Itisanotherfact,thatIamgoingtobemarriedagain.’

           Thereshepaused,andsmiledatsomethoughtthatoccurredtoher.DoctorWybrowwasnotfavourablyimpressedbyhersmile—therewassomethingatoncesadandcruelinit.Itcameslowly,anditwentawaysuddenly.Hebegantodoubtwhetherhehadbeenwiseinactingonhisfirstimpression.Hismindrevertedtothecommonplacepatientsandthediscoverablemaladiesthatwerewaitingforhim,withacertaintenderregret.

           Theladywenton.

           ’Myapproachingmarriage,’shesaid,’hasoneembarrassingcircumstanceconnectedwithit.ThegentlemanwhosewifeIamtobe,wasengagedtoanotherladywhenhehappenedtomeetwithme,abroad:thatlady,mind,beingofhisownbloodandfamily,relatedtohimashiscousin.Ihaveinnocentlyrobbedherofherlover,anddestroyedherprospectsinlife.Innocently,Isay—becausehetoldmenothingofhisengagementuntilafterIhadacceptedhim.WhenwenextmetinEngland—andwhentherewasdanger,nodoubt,oftheaffaircomingtomyknowledge—hetoldmethetruth.Iwasnaturallyindignant.Hehadhisexcuseready;heshowedmealetterfromtheladyherself,releasinghimfromhisengagement.Amorenoble,amorehigh-mindedletter,Ineverreadinmylife.Icriedoverit—Iwhohavenotearsinmeforsorrowsofmyown!Iftheletterhadlefthimanyhopeofbeingforgiven,Iwouldhavepositivelyrefusedtomarryhim.