Oldfield and pleaded your cause with
papa--oh, so eloquently! Sometimes when I think of it now I feel almost
jealous. Who is she?"
"From what you have always told me, I think it was the Sister of
Charity who nursed me."
"You silly thing, she was no Sister of Charity; that was only put on.
Charles, tell me the truth. What does it matter _now?_ It was some lady
who loved you."
"Loved me, and set her wits to work to marry me to you?"
"Women's love is so disinterested--sometimes."
"No, no; she told me she was a sister of--, and no doubt that is the
truth."
"A sister of whom?"
"No matter: don't remind me of the past; it is odious to me; and, on
second thoughts, rather than stir up all that mud, it would be better
not to use the anonymous letter, even if you could get it again."
Lady Bassett begged him to take advice on that; meantime she would try
to get the letter, and also the evidence that Richard Bassett wrote it.
"I see no harm in that," said Sir Charles; "only confine your
communication to Mr. Oldfield. I will not have you speaking or writing
to a woman I don't know: and the more I think of her conduct the less I
understand it."
"There are people who do good by stealth," suggested Bella timidly.
"Fiddledeedee!" replied Sir Charles; "you are a goose--I mean an
angel.
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