Dartrey relieved her midway in a rigid practice of the formalities: ‘I think I may guess that you have something to tell me relating to Miss Radnor?’
‘It is.’ Mrs. Marsett gathered up for an immediate plunge, and deferred it. ‘I met her—we went out with the riding-master. She took to me. I like her—I could say’ (the woman’s voice dropped dead low, in a tremble), ‘I love her. She is young: I could kneel to her. Do you know a Major Worrell?’
‘Worrell? no.’
‘He is a-calls himself a friend of my—of Captain Marsett’s. He met us out one day.’
‘He permitted himself to speak to Miss Radnor?’
She rejoiced in Dartrey’s look. ‘Not then. First let me tell you. I can hardly tell you. But Miss Radnor tells me you are not like other men. You have made your conclusions already. Are you asking what right I had to be knowing her? It is her goodness. Accident began it; I did not deceive her; as soon as ever I could I—I have Captain Marsett’s promise to me: at present he’s situated, he—but I opened my heart to her: as much as a woman can. It came! Did I do very wrong?’
‘I’m not here to decide: continue, pray.’
Mrs. Marsett aimed at formal speech, and was driving upon her natural in anger. ‘I swear I did it for the best. She is an innocent girl... young lady: only she has a head; she soon reads things. I saw the kind of cloud in her. I spoke. I felt bound to: she said she would not forsake me.—I was bound to! And it was enough to break my heart, to think of her despising me. No, she forgave, pitied;—she was kind. Those are the angels who cause us to think of changeing. I don’t care for sermons, but when I meet charity: I won’t bore you!’
‘You don’t.’
‘My... Captain Marsett can’t bear—he calls it Psalmody. He thinks things ought always to be as they are, with women and men; and women preachers he does detest. She is not one to preach. You are waiting to hear what I have to tell. That man Major Worrell has tried to rob me of everything I ever had to set a value on:—love, I ‘d say;—he laughs at a woman like me loving.’