And there they were--not an inch
gained--peppering away at one another as briskly as ever, with the work
to begin all over again.
'You think I have neither eyes nor understanding; but I can see, young
lady, as well as another; ay, Madam, I've eyes, and some experience too,
and 'tis my simple duty to my brother, and to the name I bear, not to
mention _you_, niece, to prevent, if my influence or authority can do
it, the commission of a folly which, I can't but suspect, may possibly
be meditated, and which, even you, niece, would live very quickly to
repent.'
Gertrude did not answer; she only looked a little doubtfully at her
aunt, with a gaze of deep, uneasy enquiry. That sort of insinuation
seemed to disconcert her. But she did not challenge her aunt to define
her meaning, and the attack was soon renewed at another point.
When Gertrude walked down to the town, to the King's House, or even to
see Lily, at this side of the bridge, Dominick, the footman, was ordered
to trudge after her--a sort of state she had never used in her little
neighbourly rambles--and Gertrude knew that her aunt catechised that
confidential retainer daily.
Pages:
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326