Johannah did not speak.
“I’ve already scraped acquaintance with the parson,” he went on. Then, as she still was silent, “I wonder what would become of your social position in this County if I should have a good long talk about you with the parson.”
“To a man of your intelligence, the solution of that problem can surely present no difficulty,” she replied wearily.
“You admit that your social position would be smashed up?”
“All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put it together again,” she said.
“I’m glad to find at least that you acknowledge my power,” said he.
“You have it in your power to tell people that I was once inconceivably simple enough to believe that you were an honourable man, that I once had the inconceivable bad taste to be fond of you. What woman’s character could survive that revelation?”
“And I could add—couldn’t I?—that you once had the inconceivable weakness to become my mistress?”
“Oh, you could add no end of details,” she admitted.
“Well, then?” he questioned.