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Gissing, George, 1857-1903

"The Unclassed"

What the deuce shall we do then?"
"No, I shall not be ill. It will be all right if I can get sleep."
He was silent for a little, then spoke, with his eyes on the ground.
"Waymark, is this true they say about her--about the former time?"
"Yes; it is true."
Waymark in turn was silent.
"I suppose," he continued presently, "I owe you an apology."
"None. It was right of you to act as you did."
He was going to say something else, but checked himself. Waymark
noticed this, watched his face for a moment, and spoke with some
earnestness.
"But it was in that only I misled you. Do you believe me when I
repeat that she and I were never anything but friends!"
Julian looked up with a gleam of gratitude in his eyes.
"Yes, I believe you!"
"And be sure of this," Waymark went on, "whether or not this
accusation is true, it does not in the least affect the nobility of
her character. You and I are sufficiently honest, in the true sense
of the word, to understand this."
Waymark only saw Mr. Woodstock once or twice in the next fortnight,
and very slight mention was made between them of the coming trial.
He himself was not to be involved in the case in any way; as a
witness on Ida's side he could do no good, and probably would
prejudice her yet more in the eyes of the jury.


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