"Yes; I only wish to the Lord I had exercised that right before. I might have saved you from this ruin!"
"You couldn't have saved me, sir, if that's any satisfaction."
"It's no use to think what might have been—" The old man sat down, almost fell into the chair by the window where he had thrown the letter. "Was she a decent woman?"
"Was she a—" Ethan repeated, bewildered.
"Who is she?" thundered old Tallmadge, with renewed rage.
"Almira Marlowe."
"Marlowe! Any relation to—"
"Daughter of the new Professor of Physics."
"Ha! might be worse, I suppose. But—Marlowe? Marlowe? He's the new man, isn't he?"