“Yes.”
Susanna uttered a long whistle, and then, with a conviction and simplicity which prevented even the Rev. George from being shocked, said: “Well, I am damned! I know more than one fool of a girl who will be sick and sorry to hear it.” She paused, and added carelessly: “I suppose all your people are delighted?”
“I do not know why you should suppose so. We have had no hand in the matter. My sister has followed her own inclinations.”
“Indeed! Let me tell you, young man, that your sister might have gone farther and fared worse.”
“Doubtless. However, you will see now how impossible it is that you should remain in your present—that you should continue here, in fact.”
“What do you mean?”
“You cannot,” said the clergyman, accustomed to be bold and stern with female sinners, “when you are sister-in-law to Miss Lind, live as you are now doing with her cousin.”
“Why not?”
“Because it would be a scandal. I will say nothing at present of the sin of it: you will have to account for that before a greater than I.”
“Just so, Doctor. You dont mind the sin; but when it comes to a scandal——!”