"Yes," he said, hoarsely. "This means something. It is her own confession."
"It is enough to crush her forever!" cried the woman.
"Yes, yes, that society may laugh at me as a dupe; vengeance is sweet, but I cannot afford it. To assail her, would be to arm him against me."
"And you will submit to this wrong?" cried the woman, while her eyes flashed fire and her lips writhed in scorn.
"Submit, no—my fiery Zillah; but the richest enjoyments of life should be tasted daintily—a noisy revenge is not to my taste."
"But you will live with this woman yet?"
The General smiled meaningly.
"She will, perhaps, remain under my roof."
"And you will not take away the name she has disgraced?" persisted Zillah, pale with suspense.
"You are a little too fast there, my friend. A name is never dishonored by anything kept secret within the bosom of a family. Disgrace is the scorn of society, and how can the world scorn that which it does not know?"