She gasped out, “Oh, Johnny! she’s married to him! And the children don’t know it. Send them in—Allen and Bobus I mean—make haste; I must prepare them. Take that letter, and let the others know.”
John saw the truest kindness was implicit obedience; and Allen and Bobus instantly joined her, the latter asking what new tomfoolery Janet had brought home, Allen following with a cup of coffee.
Caroline’s lips felt too dry to speak, and she held out the certificate.
It was received by Allen, with the exclamation—
“By Jove!”
And by Bobus, with an odd, harsh laugh—“I thought she would do something monstrous one of these days.”
“Did you ever hear of him, Bobus?” she found voice to say, after swallowing a mouthful of coffee.
“I fancy I have. Yes, I remember now; he was lecturing and vapouring about at Zurich; he is half Greek, I believe, and all charlatan. Well, Janet has been and gone and done for herself now, and no mistake.”
“But he is a professor,” pleaded Caroline. “He must be of some university.”
“Don’t make too sure,” said Allen, “A professor may mean a writing master. Good heavens! what a connection.”