The Professor suppressed a smile. It always seemed strange to him that a woman should be harder on her own sex than on his, but he had no intention of discouraging this lack of esprit de corps; it had its obvious conveniences.
“Did she confess everything to her aunt after her return from Portsmouth?” asked Lady Engleton.
“Yes; I have that letter now.”
“In which your name is mentioned?”
“In which my name is mentioned. I sent money to the girl, but she returned it. She said that she hated me, and would not touch it. So I gave the money to the aunt, and told her to send it on, in her own name, to Ellen, for the child’s support. Of course I made secrecy a condition. So as a matter of fact, I have acknowledged the child, though not publicly, and I have contributed to its support from its birth.”
“But I thought Mrs. Temperley had been supporting it!” cried Lady Engleton.
“Nevertheless I have continued to send the money to the aunt. If Mrs. Temperley chose to take charge of the child, I certainly had nothing to complain of. And I could not openly contribute without declaring myself.”
“Dear me, it is all very strange! What would Hadria say if she knew?”
“She does know.”
“What, all along?”