"Disapproval! Is that what you call it? Have you no other term? Father, it seems to me that you are worse than he. Had anyone told me that you could countenance such a thing I would have denied his sanity." She hid her face in her hands and moaned dumbly to herself, "I am desolate," she murmured, "I am desolate, indeed."
"No, Eden, not that, not that. Eden, listen to me; there, if you only listen to me a moment. Eden, it is not a thing that I countenance, nor is it one of which I approve. But the fault is not his. It is in the nature of some women that such things should be. It is a thing to be deplored, to be overlooked. The old law held that the sins of the father should be visited on the son; but we are more liberal now. Besides, it is part of the past; what use is there——"
"Part of the past? I saw him with her the day before yesterday, and——"
"Why, she is dead."
"Father, of whom are you speaking?"
"Of his mother, of course; and you?"
"I am speaking of his mistress, whom he wishes your daughter to entertain."
"Eden, it is impossible. I misunderstood you. What you say is absurd. Usselex is incapable of such infamy."
"He is, then, and he has the capacity to have me share it too."
"But tell me, what grounds have you for saying——"