“Very true, my dear, very true. You see all these things far more rapidly and more clearly than I do.” “I have thought so long and so much about it, I suppose there are few contingencies of the case have escaped me; and now that I learn how you once knew and were attached to the poor girl's mother--” “I am sorry to rob you of so harmless an illusion,” interrupted he, smiling; “but I have already said I never saw her.” “Oh, you did say so! I forget all about it. Well, there was something or other that brought the families in relation, no matter what, and it must be a great satisfaction to you to see the breach restored, and through my intervention, too; for I must needs say, Sir Stafford, there are many women who would entertain a silly jealousy respecting one who once occupied the first place in their husband's esteem.” “Must I once more assure you that this whole assumption is groundless; that I never--” “Quite enough; more than I ask for, more than I have any right to ask for,” broke she in. “If you did not interrupt me, and pardon me if I say that this habit of yours is calculated to produce innumerable misconceptions, I say that, if I had not been interrupted, I would have told you that I regard such jealousies as most mean and unworthy. We cannot be the arbiters of our affections any more than of our fortunes; and if in early life we may have formed attachments imprudent attachments.” Here her Ladyship, who had unwittingly glided from the consideration of Sir Stafford's case to that of her own, became confused and flurried, her cheek flushing and her chest heaving. She looked overwhelmed with embarrassment, and it was only after a long struggle to regain the lost clew to her discourse she could falteringly say, “Don't you agree with me? I 'm sure you agree with me.” “I 'm certain I should if I only understood you aright,” said he, good-naturedly, and by his voice and look at once reassuring her. “Well, so far, all is settled,” said she, rising from her chair. “And now for this letter; I conclude the sooner it be done the better. When may we hope to get away from this dreary place?” “Grounsell tells me, by Friday or Saturday next I shall be able for the journey.” “If it had not been to provoke me, I 'm certain he would have pronounced you quite well ten days ago.” “You forget, Hester, my own sensations not to say sufferings could scarcely deceive me.”