"I will speak to the woman
myself, and clear you of every--. Oh, but this is all nonsense.
Let us go down at once, Harriet. What a pity you asked me to come up
here!"
It was the nearest to a reproach that he had ever yet addressed to
her. His face showed clearly how distressed he was, and that on his
own account more than hers, for he could not conceive any blame save
on himself for being so regardless of appearances.
"Go as quietly as ever you can," Harriet whispered. "The stairs
creak so. Step very softly."
This was terrible to the poor fellow. To steal down in this guilty
way was as bad as a confession of evil intentions, and he so
entirely innocent of a shadow of evil even in his thought. Yet he
could not but do as she bade him. Even on the stairs she urged him
in a very loud whisper to be yet more cautious. He was out of
himself with mortification; and felt angry with her for bringing him
into such ignominy. In the back parlour once more, he took up his
hat at once.
"You mustn't go yet," whispered Harriet. "I'm sure that woman's
listening on the stairs. You must talk a little. Let's talk so she
can hear us. Suppose she should tell Mrs. Ogle."
"I can't see that it matters," said Julian, with annoyance.
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