And this was a generous distinction. It was generous; and, having recognized the generosity, she was unable to go beyond it.
She was presently making the distinction to Miss Halkett. The colonel had left her at the door of the house: Miss Halkett sought admission to her private room on an errand of condolence, for she had sympathized with her very much in the semi-indignity Nevil had forced her to undergo: and very little indeed had she been able to sympathize with Nevil, who had been guilty of the serious fault of allowing himself to appear moved by his own commonplace utterances; or, in other words, the theme being hostile to his audience, he had betrayed emotion over it without first evoking the spirit of pathos.
“As for me,” Rosamund replied, to some comforting remarks of Miss Halkett’s, “I do not understand why I should be mixed up in Dr. Shrapnel’s misfortunes: I really am quite unable to recollect his words to me or his behaviour: I have only a positive impression that I left his house, where I had gone to see Captain Beauchamp, in utter disgust, so repelled by his language that I could hardly trust myself to speak of the man to Mr. Romfrey when he questioned me. I did not volunteer it. I am ready to say that I believe Dr. Shrapnel did not intend to be insulting. I cannot say that he was not offensive.
You know, Miss Halkett, I would willingly, gladly have saved him from anything like punishment.”
“You are too gentle to have thought of it,” said Cecilia.
“But I shall never be forgiven by Captain Beauchamp. I see in his eyes that he accuses me and despises me.”
“He will not be so unjust, Mrs. Culling.”
Rosamund begged that she might hear what Nevil had first said on his arrival.
Cecilia related that they had seen him walking swiftly across the park, and that Mr. Romfrey had hailed him, and held his hand out; and that Captain Beauchamp had overlooked it, saying he feared Mr. Romfrey’s work was complete. He had taken her father’s hand and hers and his touch was like ice.
“His worship of that Dr. Shrapnel is extraordinary,” quoth Rosamund. “And how did Mr. Romfrey behave to him?”