The first few words conveyed its nature to her, and she swayed for a moment as if she might fall. Alice sprang to her side.
"What is it, Eleanor,—let me read it with you. Shall I, daddy?"
Gorham nodded. When they had finished, Eleanor started to speak, but her husband checked her. The momentary faintness had passed, and she stood erect, eager for the word from Gorham which would permit her to break the silence.
"Where did this come from?" Alice demanded.
"Mr. Covington just brought it to me."
"What did you do to the man who dared to draw it up?" she asked indignantly of Covington.
"Mr. Covington is the man who had it drawn up," her father answered.
"Now we will listen to what he has to say about it."
The man squared himself for the issue.
"You have read it," he said huskily, "and you value your wife's reputation?"
"Yes, beyond anything and everything else."