‘It is monstrous!’ burst from the young man. ‘They are taking advantage of her innocence. She is a child. Why do they educate girls like that? I should say, how can they leave them so uneducated? In an ideal world it would be all very well, but see what comes of it here? She is walking with her eyes open into horrors and curses, and understands as little of what awaits her as a lamb led to butchery. Do you stand by and say nothing?’
‘It surprises me that you are so affected,’ remarked the vicar quietly.
‘No doubt. I can’t reason about it. But I know that my life will be hideous if this goes on to the end.’
‘You are late.’
‘Yes, I am late. I was in Wanley some weeks ago; I did not tell you of it. I called at their house; they were not at home to me. Yet Adela was sitting at the window. What did that mean? Is her mother so contemptible that my change of fortune leads her to treat me in that way?’
‘But does no other reason occur to you?’ asked Mr. Wyvern, with grave surprise.
‘Other reason! What other?’
‘You must remember that gossip is active.’
‘You mean that they have heard abou—?’
‘Somehow it had become the common talk of the village very shortly after my arrival here.’