He left her with the gladness of one who has had
his righteous desire, held consultation with the butler on the
matter of the livery, and went home to his lodging. There he sat
down and meditated.
A strange new yearning pity rose in his heart as he thought about
his sister and the sad facts of her lonely condition. He feared
much that her stately composure was built mainly on her imagined
position in society, and was not the outcome of her character. Would
it be cruelty to destroy that false foundation, hardly the more
false as a foundation for composure that beneath it lay a mistake?
--or was it not rather a justice which her deeper and truer self
had a right to demand of him? At present, however, he need not
attempt to answer the question. Communication even such as a trusted
groom might have with her, and familiarity with her surroundings,
would probably reveal much. Meantime it was enough that he would
now be so near her that no important change of which others might
be aware, could well approach her without his knowledge, or anything
take place without his being able to interfere if necessary.
CHAPTER XIII: TWO CONVERSATIONS
The next day Wallis came to see Malcolm and take him to the tailor's.
They talked about the guests of the previous evening.
"There's a great change on Lord Meikleham," said Malcolm.
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