Diana glanced quickly at her father, keenly aware of his concealment and that this all must touch him to the quick. The old man looked very old indeed.
“I don’t think it’s right to let the thing attach itself to Mr. Trench if you know he’s innocent,� he said at length.
“I reckon he’d be satisfied to be justified here,� said Dr. Cheyney, his eyes resting on Diana as she bent down and caressed Sammy.
“You’ll have to make it public to be of any use to him now,� said Colonel Royall, “the other story has been in every newspaper in the State.�
“I know it,� said Dr. Cheyney, “but, David, it will come home to you here. Sammy’s father is Jacob Eaton.�
There was silence for a few moments, and then Colonel Royall said: “It is singular that that young man has managed to inflict so many mortifications upon his family. Poor Jinny! She was always quoting him as a pink of propriety.�
“The result of a mollycoddle,� said the doctor shortly. “Now you know the facts, David, and it’s up to you. Shall I tell them?�
Colonel Royall meditated. “Poor Jinny!� he said again, “she’s been so proud of him, and now—one blow on another, no wonder she’s given up. Poor Jinny!�
“Father,� said Diana, “we’ve no right to consider even Cousin Jinny, only Mr. Trench.�
The force of her conviction showed through her reserve. She felt that Caleb Trench had borne enough at the hands of their relatives, and that he should be the scapegoat of one of Jacob’s sins was too much.