"Good heavens, Olivia!" burst forth Mr. de Burgh, passionately, "how can you sit there, and distort the truth in that shameful manner? you know as well as I do the true version of this part of the story. Mary," turning to his cousin with flashing eyes, "Eustace Trevor had a mother; an excellent charming creature, whose existence, through the combined influence of her husband and a most baneful, pernicious wretch of a woman, that Marryott, of whom no doubt you have heard, was rendered one long tissue of wretchedness and wrong, the extent of which I believe is hardly known. Eustace, who adored his mother, keenly felt and manfully espoused her cause; therefore, you may see at once this was the reason of his father's hatred of him, and the old man's treatment of this son, was one shameful system of injustice and tyranny--enough, I confess, to drive any man into a state of mental irritation, possessed of Eustace's sensitive temperament." Mary's wandering, startled gaze turned inquiringly on Mrs. de Burgh, as if to ask whether this new and melancholy representation of the case could be really true. Mrs. de Burgh looked a little disconcerted, but replied carelessly: "Yes, poor Aunt Trevor! she had certainly a sad time of it; but then it was partly her own fault. She was a weak-spirited creature. What other woman would have endured what she did in that tame and passive manner?" "Yes, these poor weak-spirited creatures have often, however, strength to bear a great deal for the sake of others," replied Mr. de Burgh, sarcastically. "It would have been more high and noble-spirited, I dare say, to have blazed abroad her domestic grievances; but she had no doubt a little consideration for her children, and the honour and respectability of their house and name." "Oh, nonsense! that was all very well when they were children to consider them; but when they were men, it signified very little," said Mrs. de Burgh. "But _then_," suggested Mary, with trembling earnestness, "then she must have had great comfort in their affection and support." "Yes," answered Mr. de Burgh, "in Eustace she had, I know, unfailing comfort and support." "And Eugene?" anxiously demanded Mary. "Surely he too--" "Of course," Mrs. de Burgh hastened to exclaim, "no one could be fonder or kinder to his mother though, because"--looking angrily at her husband--"he had the sense and the discretion not to quarrel with his father, and strength of mind not to _go mad_--Louis, I suppose, wishes to make you believe that Eugene was not kind to his mother." "Nothing would make me believe that Eugene was not kind to his mother," added Mary with an earnest energy, which showed with what indignation she would repel this distracting idea. And Mr. de Burgh replied with great moderation: