“I don’t know. A tongue makes things so complicated.”
He laughed. “What have you been doing since I went away?”
“Trying to be contented, and help Mariana.”
“Help Mariana?”
“Yes. I tried on a dress for her last night, but the room was so gloomy I dare not go again this morning.”
“What kind of a dress were you trying on?”
“A wedding-dress that gave me the shivers. Do you know, Mr. Barringcourt, I think Mariana the most splendid woman I ever met.”
“Indeed.”
“Yes, and I think she’s the most shamefully ill-used woman, too.”
“No one is ill-used, except dogs and dumb animals in general.”