Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt:...her face buried in her hands. Gradually, the terrible, painful confusion of her mind cleared a little; with the pluck natural to her, she strove to think not only what was the best, but, above all, what was the right thing to do. Courage and calmness came to her as she thought. For every one's sake she must keep her secret as long as possible. She could ascertain from Mary Rennie if her aunt was coming to return her visit, and before they met she would tell her storyto Mrs. Rennie; she would meet the danger half-way--it was all she could do. Then, if Mrs. Morrison would not leave her home, her daughter might, and she would be equally ready to tell the scandalous story. The only creature with whom she could take counsel was Dick, and with him only face to face. If she wrote on the repulsive subject, Dick would reply, and there was always the danger of the letter falling into George's hands, who would unhes'itatingly read it. Besides, she scarcely knew where to address him, as he spoke of leaving Fleury St. Jean about the present time. Indeed his letters had been few and scanty of late; there was a change of tone in them too--an indescribable constraint--since he and Brand had parted after their expedition to Florence. Marjory had noticed it before; now, as she re-read his last two epistles (which she took out in the hope of extracting some consolation from their contents), it appeared more marked than at first. Was Dick forgetting her, or growing indifferent to her joys and sorrows? Until this thought occurred to her, she did not know how much she depended on his sympathy and counsel. The tears which her alarm, her anticipation of shame, had frozen at their fount, melted and flowed freely at the idea of separation or...