“Oh, no: you have a reason, I see. So, why should not the little Rowlands be truthful?”
“Because they have so perpetual an example of falsehood before them at home. I have made some painful discoveries there lately.”
“Is it possible you did not know that woman long ago?”
“I knew her obvious qualities, which there is no need to specify: but the depth of her untruth is a new fact to me.”
“Are you sure of it, now?”
“Quite sure of it in some particulars, and strongly suspecting it in others. Do not tell your sister anything of what I am going to say, unless you find it necessary for the direction of her conduct. Let your disclosures be rather to Mr Hope. That is settled, is it? Well, Mrs Rowland’s ruling passion just now is hatred to your household.”
“I suspected as much. But—the untruth.”
“Wait a little. She dislikes you, all and severally.”
“What, my brother?”
“Oh, yes; for marrying into the Grey connection so decidedly. Did you ever hear that before?”