And hence it is no
wonder that Society, abetted by the Church, should go on from
generation to generation talking murderous platitudes about it.
But, although such was her reasoning beforehand, heart had so far
overcome habit and prejudice with Mrs. Wardour, that, convinced
on the first interview of the high tone and good influence of
Mary, she had gradually come to put herself in the way of seeing
her as often as she came, ostensibly to herself that she might
prevent any deterioration of intercourse; and although she
always, on these occasions, played the grand lady, with a
stateliness that seemed to say, "Because of your individual
worth, I condescend, and make an exception, but you must not
imagine I receive your class at Thornwick," she had almost
entirely ceased making remarks upon the said class in Letty's
hearing.
On her part, Letty had by this time grown so intimate with Mary
as to open with her the question upon which her aunt had given
her so little satisfaction; and this same Sunday afternoon, as
they sat in the arbor at the end of the long yew hedge in the old
garden, it had come up again between them; for, set thinking by
Letty's bewilderment, Mary had gone on thinking, and had at
length laid hold of the matter, at least by the end that belonged
to _her_.
"I can not consent, Letty," she said, "to trouble my mind about
it as you do.
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