He
and the doctor had agreed to keep her on board, in the fresh sea air,
till she was equal to the fatigue of the journey to Grasmere. There was
nothing to be gained by taking her on to the island or by carrying her
to London. The yacht was well found, provided with all things needful
for comfort, and Lesbia could be nowhere better off until she was safe
in her old home:--that home she had left so gaily, in the freshness of
her youthful inexperience, nearly a year ago, and to which she would
return so battered and broken, so deeply degraded by the knowledge of
evil.
Lady Kirkbank had started for London on the previous day.
'I am evidently not wanted _here_,' she said, with an offended air; 'and
I must have everything at Kirkbank ready for a house full of people
before the twelfth of August, so the sooner I get to Scotland the
better. I shall make a _detour_ in order to go and see Lady Maulevrier
on my way down. It is due to myself that I should let her know that _I_
am entirely blameless in this most uncomfortable business.
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