In what, then, had I sinned? For the little lady’s next words, coldly murmured, increased in me an uneasiness, as of sin:—
“You have told us much that we are not accustomed to hear in Kings Port.”
“Oh, I haven’t begun to tell you!” I exclaimed cheerily.
“You certainly have not told us,” said Mrs. Gregory, “how your ‘precocity’ escapes this divorce degradation.”
“Escape it? Those people think it is—well, provincial—not to have been divorced at least once!”
Mrs. Gregory opened her eyes, but Mrs. Weguelin shut her lips.
I continued: “Even the children, for their own little reasons, like it. Only last summer, in Newport, a young boy was asked how he enjoyed having a father and an ex-father.”
“Ex-father!” said Mrs. Gregory. “Vice-father is what I should call him.”
“Maria!” murmured Mrs. Weguelin, “how can you jest upon such topics?”
“I am far from jesting, Julia. Well, young gentleman, and what answer did this precious Newport child make?”