I know he has been
to see you more than once while Mr. and Mrs. Redmain were not yet
returned."
Sepia's countenance changed; an evil fire glowed in her eyes, and
she looked at Mary as if she would search her to the bone. The
poorer the character, the more precious the repute!
"The foolish fellow," she returned, with a smile of contempt,
"chose to fall in love with me!--A married man, too!"
"If you understood that, how did he come to be here so often?"
asked Mary, looking her in the face.
But Sepia knew better than declare war a moment before it was
unavoidable.
"Have I not just told you," she said, in a haughty tone, "that
the man was in love with me?"
"And have you not just told me he was a married man? Could he
have come to the house so often without at least your
permission?"
Mary was actually taking the upper hand with her! Sepia felt it
with scarcely repressive rage.
"He deserved the punishment," she replied, with calmness.
"You do not seem to have thought of his wife!"
"Certainly not. She never gave me offense."
"Is offense the only ground for casting a regard on a fellow-
creature?"
"Why should I think of her?"
"Because she was your neighbor, and you were doing her a wrong."
"Once for all, Marston," cried Sepia, overcome at last, "this
kind of thing will not do with me. I may not be a saint, but I
have honesty enough to know the genuine thing from humbug.
Pages:
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476