Richard Bassett was now perplexed, and saw himself in that very
position which had so galled Lady Bassett six weeks or so before. He
could not make any advantageous move, but was obliged to await events.
All he could do was to spy a little on Lady Bassett, and note how often
she went to the asylum.
After many days' watching he saw something new.
Mr. Angelo was speaking to her with a good deal of warmth, when
suddenly she started from him, and then turned round upon him in a very
commanding attitude, and with prodigious fire. Angelo seemed then to
address her very humbly. But she remained rigid. At last Angelo retired
and left her so; but he was no sooner out of sight than she dropped
into a garden seat, and, taking out her handkerchief, cried a long
time.
"Why doesn't the fool come back?" said Bassett, from his tower of
observation.
He related this incident to Wheeler, and it impressed that worthy more
than all he had ever said before on the same subject. But in a day or
two Wheeler, who was a great gossip, and picked up every thing, came
and told Bassett that the parson was looking out for a curate, and
going to leave his living for a time, on the ground of health. "That is
rather against your theory, Mr. Bassett," said he.
"Not a bit," said Bassett.
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