" Allowing for difference of times
and customs, that had been the attitude of all towards Quisante; a
caste-feeling, almost a race-feeling, dictated it and kept it alive and
strong under all superficial alliance and outward friendliness. But May
had seen the barrier only to throw it down in a passion of scorn for its
narrowness and an impulse of indignation at its cruelty. If she had gone
so far, he was bold who dared to say that she would not go farther, or
would set a limit to her advance on the path that the rest of them had
never trodden.
"At any rate it shan't happen here," said Lady Richard. "I should never
be able to look her mother in the face again."
"It won't happen anywhere," Dick protested. "But you can't turn him out,
you know."
"I can't unless I absolutely literally do. He won't see that he isn't
wanted."
"No; and he may be excused if he thinks he is--by May Gaston at all
events."
The subject was one to be discussed between husbands and wives, Dick and
Lady Richard, Mrs. Baxter and the Dean, rather than in any more public
fashion, but the unexpressed thought pervaded every conversation, and was
strongest when the presence of the persons concerned forbade even
indirect reference.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119