‘You were speaking of the tediousness of a five weeks’ imprisonment!’
‘Quite right,’ said he, ‘and tedious it is if it’s to last five weeks.’
‘But, my dear Wilfrid, I was endeavouring to point out that the imprisonment to which you refer is unnecessary; in fact, after last night——’ But here I suddenly bit my lip to the perception that it would be rash and unwise on my part to let him know that his wife had been present at Colonel Hope-Kennedy’s burial. ‘What I mean is,’ I continued, talking rapidly, ‘if it’s a mere question of sensitiveness or pride recoiling from observation, why not imitate the great Mokanna:
“O’er his features hung
The Veil, the Silver Veil which he had flung
In mercy there to hide from human sight
His dazzling brow till men could bear its light.”
In our case we have no dazzling brow, and consequently require no silver veils; but in Miss Laura’s wardrobe there should be——’
He was now gaping at me, and cried out, ‘Your brain wanders this morning, Charles. Do you mean that I should go veiled?’
‘You!’ I exclaimed; ‘certainly not. I am not talking of you.’