“One could not help being sorry for Moy,” said Miles, as he concluded; “he turns out to be but half the villain after all, made so rather by acquiescence than by his own free will.”
“But reaping the profit,” said Mrs. Poynsett.
“Yes, though in ignorance of the injury he was doing, and thus climbing to a height that makes his fall the worse. I am sorry for old Proudfoot too,” added Julius. “I believe they have not ventured to tell him of his granddaughter’s marriage.”
“I do not think the gain to me would be at all equal to the loss to them,” said Archie. “Exposure would be ruin and heartbreak there, and I don’t see what it would do for me.”
“My dear Archie!” exclaimed both Mrs. Poynsett and Joanna, in amazement.
“So long as you and Mr. Bowater are satisfied, I care for little else,” said Archie.
“But your position, my dear,” said Mrs. Poynsett.
“We don’t care much about a man’s antecedents, within a few years, out in the colonies, dear Aunt Julia,” said Archie, smiling.
“You aren’t going back?”
“That depends,” said Archie, his eyes seeking Joanna’s; “but I don’t see what there is for me to do here. I’m spoilt for a solicitor anyway—”