'But, first, I must know a little more about that Mr. Charke, and what
circumstances enabled Uncle Silas's enemies to found on his death that
wicked slander, which has done no one any good, and caused some persons so
much misery. There is Uncle Silas, I may say, ruined by it; and we all know
how it darkened the life of my dear father.'
'People will talk, my dear. Your uncle Silas had injured himself before
that in the opinion of the people of his county. He was a black sheep,
in fact. Very bad stories were told and believed of him. His marriage
certainly was a disadvantage, you know, and the miserable scenes that went
on in his disreputable house--all that predisposed people to believe ill of
him.'
'How long is it since it happened?'
'Oh, a long time; I think before you were born,' answered she.
'And the injustice still lives--they have not forgotten it yet?' said I,
for such a period appeared to me long enough to have consigned anything in
its nature perishable to oblivion.
Lady Knollys smiled.
'Tell me, like a darling cousin, the whole story as well as you can
recollect it.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278