"And to think of her encouraging the wicked, old villain!" ejaculated the indignant Mrs. Spedley.
"And her father to shut his eyes!" suggested the post-mistress of Walton.
"What can she expect will be the end of it?"
"I'm sure, I can't say."
"He's married, too," said Stone, angrily; for Stone was now utterly neglected: he had even turned up his shirt cuffs, with D'Orsay magnificence, on the preceding Sunday; and still Hester had not vouchsafed him a look.
"Married! yes; but he could get nobody to live with him; and his wife has been separated many years," observed Mrs. Ruddles; "and no wonder!"
"So that Hester falls with her eyes open ... she can't expect him to marry her—the minx!" said Mrs. Spedley.
"Oh, no. Besides, she looks upon marriage as immoral."
"Ah!"
"Yes, yes: very comfortable notions those are for some people."