She wandered along the river bank, looking now at the grey towers of the castle, and now at the pale green foliage which sparsely covered the trees on the opposite bank, when suddenly she was startled by two rapid steps behind her and a sharp touch, which was almost a light blow, on her shoulder.
Turning quickly, she saw Godwin, who looked angry and harassed. He stopped short, so she had to do the same.
“So you’re to be my sister-in-law,” he said, abruptly.
“Well?” said Deborah, quietly.
“I wish you joy of your post as wife to such a man as Rees has become.”
“Is that kind of you?”
“I can’t help it. I must say what I think for once. I’ll never mention the subject again. If you like to be the slave of a man who hasn’t it in him to care for you, what right have I to object?”
“What right, indeed,” said Deborah.
“There, that’s enough. I didn’t know whether you, being a woman, could understand what a wreck, morally even more than physically, that unfortunate lad has become. So I thought I ought to warn you. Of course, I find it is useless; I might have known it would be.”
“It is indeed,” said she, in a peculiar tone.