‘You know Lady Fotheringham was fond of Jane Gardner, and he might have taken her upon her word.’
‘As if Percy would see with any old woman’s eyes, when once he came in contact with her! No, I see but one explanation. It must have been I who lowered his estimate of woman. Well I might do so, when I treated like a toy the happiness he had confided to me. I, on whom he had fixed his ardent soul for so many years past. No wonder he learnt to hold all women cheap alike! O, that summer of madness! If I have dimmed the brightness of that noble nature!’
‘Dear, dear Theodora, what can I say to comfort you? She may be altered; he may have improved her.’
‘She is not capable of it,’ said Theodora; ‘there is nothing in her but time-serving and selfishness. And he, with that large true heart, so detesting falsehood—he must either be wretched or deceived—debased! No, there is no comfort—there never will be.’
‘Except the best sort,’ tenderly whispered Violet. Theodora rested her head on her hands, and remained perfectly still for some moments, then looked up, and spoke in a depressed voice.
‘I cannot talk any more. I feel shattered from head to foot. I must be quiet.’
‘Then, dearest, pray go to bed at once, and I will come and see you.’
‘I cannot. I undertook to give Maria her draught at one o’clock. May I stay here while you go to bed?’
‘Anything, dearest, dearest sister.’
‘Only let me be in the room with you, and be quiet.’