How he hated the style of attack just made on him; the style of the
dowager altogether! He asked himself in what manner he could avoid this
for the future. It was a debasing, lowering occurrence, and he felt sure
that it could hardly have taken place in his servants' hall. But he was
glad he had said what he did about the separation. It might grieve him
to part from his wife, but Mr. Carr had warned him that he ought to do
it. Certainly, if she disliked him so very much--if she forced it upon
him--why, then, it would be an easier task; but he felt sure she did not
dislike him. If she had done so before marriage, she had learnt to like
him now; and he believed that the bare mention of parting would shock
her; and so--his duty seemed to lie in remaining by her side.
He held the letter in his hand for some minutes before he opened it.
The handwriting warned him that it was from Mr. Carr, and he knew that
no pleasant news could be in it. In fact, he had placed himself in so
unsatisfactory a position as to render anything but bad news next door
to an impossibility.
It contained only a few lines--a word of caution Mr. Carr had forgotten
to speak when he took leave of Lord Hartledon the previous morning. "Let
me advise you not to say anything to those people--Gum, I think the name
is--about G.G. It might not be altogether prudent for you to do so.
Should you remain any time at Hartledon, I will come down for a few
days and question for myself.
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