"A moment, Mrs. Darling. If I am to help you with advice, you must speak without disguise. Do not say 'for some reason or other;' tell the reason, if you know it."
Another struggle with herself: must she confess? Mrs. Darling clasped her hands in pain.
"Oh, how cruel it is to have to say these things! And of Charlotte, who has always been so reticent, so honourable, whatever her other failings. There! let me speak out and have done with it. I believe she is jealous of Miss Beauclerc: of Miss Beauclerc and of Sir Isaac St. John."
"Your daughter would like to remain here for ever--mistress of Castle Wafer, and Sir Isaac's wife?"
"Yes, I do believe it is so. And I could have believed such planning of any one in the world rather than of Charlotte. I have striven to persuade her to leave with me, and it is of no use. I would not for the world that she should marry again."
"She ought not to have married at all," remarked the surgeon.
"I could not help it. I did my best. You don't know what a care Charlotte has always been to me!"
"To return to Miss Beauclerc. Do you fear Mrs. Carleton might injure her?"
"Not if she retains her reason. But--should that leave her, even momentarily,--Mr. Pym," she broke off, "it was because I found myself incompetent to deal with these troubles that I wrote for you."
"You must take her away from Castle Wafer without delay."