"Your aunt, Mr. North, speaks excitedly," said the elder gentleman;
"yet I think she does not overestimate the unfortunate position in
which your odd fancy places you. I know nothing of the reasons
that have impelled you to this step; I only know that the popular
opinion is that the cause is utterly inadequate. You are still
young, with a future before you. I need not say how your present
conduct may imperil that. If you expected to achieve any good--
even to your own satisfaction--but this conduct--"
"Yes--if there was anything to be gained by it!" broke in Mrs.
North.
"If you ever thought she'd come back!--but that kind of woman
don't. They must have change. Why"--began Dick suddenly, and as
suddenly lying down again.
"Is this all you have come to say?" asked James North, after a
moment's patient silence, looking from one to the other.
"All?" screamed Mrs. North; "is it not enough?"
"Not to change my mind nor my residence at present," replied North,
coolly.
"Do you mean to continue this folly all your life?"
"And have a coroner's inquest, and advertisements and all the facts
in the papers?"
"And have HER read the melancholy details, and know that you were
faithful and she was not?"
This last shot was from the gentle Maria, who bit her lips as it
glanced from the immovable man.
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