"Yes."
"And you do not guess what happened?"
"No. I dare say I am very stupid; but do tell me," I begged.
"Well, then, my dear, the morning after the races, Erle went to the castle, and the Countess was very kind, as great ladies often are, and he stayed for a week, since she pressed the matter so; and then there was an excursion into Wales, where most untoward things occurred, and the grand finale was a wedding at Lord West's in London."
"Then he married Miss Ferrers!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, my dear, even so. You have never seen the lady, I believe?"
"No, never. Is anything the matter with her?"
"Anything the matter with her? Yes, she is insane. Quite harmless, you know; but having been made with the worst temper in England, this climate has developed it into positive insanity."
"And she lives at home?" I asked, sadly, for it came over me what a tragedy Mr. Erle's life must be.
"Yes, Gerald is more than faithful to her. Ah, Thesta, child, we do not know all the patient endurance of God's men and women in this nineteenth century."