Such were
my motives, Maud, in opening, through your letter, a door of reconciliation
between us.'
I felt that I ought to have kissed his hand--that he had indicated
precisely the future that I most desired; and yet there was within me a
vague feeling, akin to suspicion--akin to dismay which chilled and overcast
my soul.
'But, Maud,' he said, 'I am disquieted to think of that stupid jackanapes
presuming to make you such an offer! A creditable situation truly--arriving
in the dark at Elverston, under the solitary escort of that wild young man,
with whom you would have fled from my guardianship; and, Maud, I tremble as
I ask myself the question, would he have conducted you to Elverston at all?
When you have lived as long in the world as I, you will appreciate its
wickedness more justly.' Here there was a little pause.
'I know, my dear, that were he convinced of his legal marriage with that
young woman,' he resumed, perceiving how startled I looked, 'such an idea,
of course, would not have entered his head; but he does not believe any
such thing. Contrary to fact and logic, he does honestly think that his
hand is still at his disposal; and I certainly do suspect that he would
have employed that excursion in endeavouring to persuade you to think as he
does.
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