You are not the only person who holds my talents for
business in high esteem.'
'But Ballingford; what will he say?'
'That is his affair; and as he never, to my knowledge, spoke to the
purpose, his remarks now, I suppose, are not fated to be much more
apropos.'
'Yet he can say things. We all know----'
'Yes, yes, we all know; but nobody believes. That is the motto of the
present day; and the only way to neutralise scandal, and to counteract
publicity.'
Mrs. Dallington was silent, and looked uneasy; and her friend perceiving
that, although she had sent to him so urgent a billet, she did not
communicate, expressed a little surprise.
'But you wish to see me, Bertha?'
'I do very much, and to speak to you. For these many days I have
intended it; but I do not know how it is, I have postponed and postponed
our interview. I begin to believe,' she added, looking up with a faint
smile, 'I am half afraid to speak.'
'Good God!' said the Baronet, really alarmed, 'you are in no trouble?'
'Oh, no! make yourself easy. Trouble, trouble! No, no! I am not exactly
in trouble. I am not in debt; I am not in a scrape; but--but--but I am
in something--something worse, perhaps: I am in love.
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