What was to be done? It was now too late to
think of getting rid of her: that would be but her signal to disclose
whatever she had seen, and so not merely enjoy a sweet revenge, but
account with clear satisfactoriness for her dismissal. What would
not Florimel now have given for some one who could sympathise with
her and yet counsel her! She was afraid to venture another meeting
with Lenorme, and besides was not a little shy of the advantage
the discovery would give him in pressing her to marry him. And now
first she began to feel as if her sins were going to find her out.
A day or two passed in alternating psychical flaws and fogs--
with poor glints of sunshine between. She watched her maid, but her
maid knew it, and discovered no change in her manner or behaviour.
Weary of observation she was gradually settling into her former
security, when Caley began to drop hints that alarmed her. Might
it not be altogether the safest thing to take her into confidence?
It would be such a relief, she thought, to have a woman she could
talk to! The result was that she began to lift a corner of the veil
that hid her trouble; the woman encouraged her, and at length the
silly girl threw her arms round the scaly one's neck, much to that
person's satisfaction, and told her that she loved Mr Lenorme.
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