“A governess advised in matrimony by a fisherman!” I said. “And who is that one, Eve?”
“You shall hear. And do not jest, Adam, or my laughter may turn to tears. They are near enough. And now for the story, which is a short one. Old Goodwin’s wife would marry me to a certain rich man,—for my worldly good, as she says.”
“A certain rich man,” I said, musing. “And will he enter the Kingdom of Heaven?”
“That he will not.”
“Then why doubt? And do you love him, Eve?”
“I do not.”
“Then why doubt?”
“If I do not,” she said, “I shall lose my place. And that is much to me, Adam, for what shall I do then? The man whom I may trust is old Goodwin, but he is not so much my friend as to hold against his wife.”
“And what said you to the man?”
“I said no, but still he came. And now I know not what I shall say next.”