'Consider: these neighbours we come among; they may have heard . . .'
'Act on the assumption.'
'You forget the principal character. Victor promises; he may have learnt a lesson at Creckholt. But look at this house he has built. How can I— any woman—contain him! He must have society.'
'Paraitre!'
'He must be in the front. He has talked of Parliament.'
Colney's liver took the thrust of a skewer through it. He spoke as in meditative encomium: 'His entry into Parliament would promote himself and family to a station of eminence naked over the Clock Tower of the House.'
She moaned. 'At the vilest, I cannot regret my conduct—bear what I may. I can bear real pain: what kills me is, the suspicion. And I feel it like a guilty wretch! And I do not feel the guilt! I should do the same again, on reflection. I do believe it saved him. I do; oh! I do, I do. I cannot expect my family to see with my eyes. You know them—my brother and sisters think I have disgraced them; they put no value on my saving him. It sounds childish; it is true. He had fallen into a terrible black mood.'
'He had an hour of gloom.'
'An hour!'
'But an hour, with him! It means a good deal.'