“Angry! I will write to him on the subject if you will give me leave.”
“But do not say it is by my desire. Do not say I wish to trouble him. I would sooner beg than be a trouble to him.”
“Why are you so delicate?”
“It is for my own sake; I wish him not to hate me.”
“Then, thus you may secure his respect. I will write to him, and let him know all the circumstances of your case. I will plead for his compassion on his child, but assure him that no conduct of his will ever induce you to declare (except only to me, who knew of your previous acquaintance) who is the father.”
To this she consented; but when Henry offered to take from her the infant, and carry him to the nurse he had engaged, to this she would not consent.
“Do you mean, then, to acknowledge him yours?” Henry asked.
“Nothing shall force me to part from him again. I will keep him, and let my neighbours judge of me as they please.”
Here Henry caught at a hope he feared to name before. “You will then have no objection,” said he, “to clear an unhappy girl to a few friends, with whom her character has suffered by becoming, at my request, his nurse?”
“I will clear any one, so that I do not accuse the father.”