“She is worse! She is a good woman. All her thoughts are on the household; it is unbearable. Never a thought of anything but the kitchen and cabbages.”
“Poor woman!” she said.
The prisoned sobs could hardly be choked back now.
“The world does not know. I have been ashamed of her. Now you see how low I am, you cannot respect me.”
Her voice was almost a whisper.
“I respect you the more for what you have done in despite of her. You have had a hard life.”
“Oh, have I not?” and a sob escaped at last.
“Compose yourself. We must go in.”
“You will be my friend all the same?”
“Yes, I will be your friend. Your confidences are safe in my keeping. There is my hand.”