Robarts stopped herself. In defending her sister she had worked
herself almost into a passion; but such a state of feeling was not
customary to her, and now that she had spoken her mind she sank
suddenly into silence.
"It seems to me, Fanny, that you almost regret Miss Robarts's
decision," said Lady Lufton.
"My wish in this matter is for her happiness, and I regret anything
that may mar it."
"You think nothing then of our welfare, and yet I do not know to
whom I might have looked for hearty friendship and for sympathy in
difficulties, if not to you?" Poor Mrs. Robarts was almost upset
by this. A few months ago, before Lucy's arrival, she would have
declared that the interests of Lady Lufton's family would have been
paramount with her, after and next to those of her own husband.
And even now, it seemed to argue so black an ingratitude on her
part--this accusation that she was indifferent to them! From her
childhood upwards she had revered and loved Lady Lufton, and for
years had taught herself to regard her as an epitome of all that was
good and gracious in woman. Lady Lufton's theories of life had been
accepted by her as the right theories, and those whom Lady Lufton had
liked she had liked. But now it seemed that all these ideas which it
had taken a life to build up were to be thrown to the ground, because
she was bound to defend a sister-in-law whom she had only known for
the last eight months.
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