Le Grande before you were with her yesterday when she
fainted in church?"
My answer was a sob.
"Where had you met her, Medoline?"
"You will tell Mr. Winthrop, and he will never forgive me."
"Then you have really been with her?"
"Yes, she sent me a letter requesting me to visit her."
"And you went. When was this?"
"A week ago. But I did not dream she was a rich woman or had ever known
Mr. Winthrop. I thought it was some one poor and in distress. I did not
know it was a person suffering from heartbreak."
"Heart-break!" she exclaimed, with such a flash of scorn, that the
surprise her words created effectually dried my tears.
"She has no heart to get broken, except the organ that propels her
blood--even a cat has the same."
"She is very beautiful, and is also extremely anxious to make reparation
to Mr. Winthrop for the wrong she has done him."
"She is as heartless and selfish as she is beautiful; and if she were to
be allowed the privilege of making reparation, the second offence would
be worse than the original one. But we will not mention her name again.
Leave her alone as she deserves."
"She compelled me to give my promise to go and see her again. She looks
for me to-day."
"Medoline, have you no sense of propriety? Mr. Winthrop's ward visiting,
unknown to him, the woman who wrought him such grievous wrong? Can you
expect him to forgive such an act, especially when he was getting to have
such confidence in your honesty and purity?"
"You will tell Mr.
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