She was longing to know more, to ask for complete enlightenment, but her pride struggled hard, and she shrank from the mere semblance of misgiving about Gilbert. She had none in her heart.
‘Is this that you have told me generally known?’ she said at last.
‘No one knows as much as I do,’ answered the elder woman, turning her head away.
‘Does Mr. Fullarton know?’ asked Cecilia.
Lady Eliza did not reply for a moment, and, when she did, her head was still turned from the girl.
‘I know his real history—his whole history,’ she replied in a thick voice; ‘other people may guess at it, but they know nothing.’
‘You will not tell me more?’
‘I cannot!’ cried Lady Eliza, getting up and turning upon her almost fiercely; ‘there is no more to be said. If you want to marry him, I suppose you will marry him; I cannot stop you. What is it to you if my heart breaks? What is it to you if all my love for you is forgotten?’
‘Aunt! Dear, dear aunt!’ cried Cecilia, ‘you have never spoken to me like this in all your life!’
She threw her arms round Lady Eliza, holding her tightly. For some time they stood clinging to each other without speaking, and the tears in Cecilia’s eyes dropped and fell upon the shoulder that leaned against her; now and then she stroked it softly with her fingers.