Кінець рабства
III
Thesewomenweresaidtoberapacious,unscrupulous,untruthful;andthoughhecontemnednoclassofhisfellow-creatures—Godforbid!—theseweresuspicionstowhichitwasunseemlythataWhalleyshouldlayherselfopen.Hehadnotexpostulatedwithher,however.Hewasconfidentshesharedhisfeelings;hewassorryforher;hetrustedherjudgment;heconsidereditamercifuldispensationthathecouldhelpheroncemore,—butinhisaristocraticheartofheartshewouldhavefounditmoreeasytoreconcilehimselftotheideaofherturningseamstress.Vaguelyherememberedreadingyearsagoatouchingpiececalledthe“SongoftheShirt.”Itwasallverywellmakingsongsaboutpoorwomen.ThegranddaughterofColonelWhalley,thelandladyofaboarding-house!Pooh!Hereplacedhishat,divedintotwopockets,andstoppingamomenttoapplyaflaringmatchtotheendofacheapcheroot,blewanembitteredcloudofsmokeataworldthatcouldholdsuchsurprises.
Ofonethinghewascertain—thatshewastheownchildofaclevermother.Nowhehadgotoverthewrenchofpartingwithhisship,heperceivedclearlythatsuchastephadbeenunavoidable.Perhapshehadbeengrowingawareofitallalongwithanunconfessedknowledge.Butshe,farawaythere,musthavehadanintuitiveperceptionofit,withtheplucktofacethattruthandthecouragetospeakout—allthequalitieswhichhadmadehermotherawomanofsuchexcellentcounsel.
Itwouldhavehadtocometothatintheend!Itwasfortunateshehadforcedhishand.Inanotheryearortwoitwouldhavebeenanutterlybarrensale.
