“My goodness, child; don’t stare at me so wild! You’ll give me the fever ‘n’ ague. Answer my question.”
Here Dr. and Mrs. Hardcastle were attracted to the scene of action.
“Can’t you speak? Did ever I say you were General Garnet’s child?”
“Did—you—not—say—so?” asked Miss Seabright, with life and death struggling in her bosom.
“No! I did not say so. How could I tell such a lie, when it wasn’t the truth?”
“And—he—was—not—my—father?”
“I wish people wouldn’t be slandering of your poor, dear mother! poor, little, wild thing. She was distantly connected with myself.”
“But,” said Elsie, interposing, “no one raised a doubt but yourself, Miss Joe, and we would like to hear you explain your words, that gave rise to all this trouble.”
“Words! what words?”
“The words you whispered to Miss Seabright when you passed through the room an hour ago.”