"Mr. Delwood," said she, raising herself to her full height, her slender
fingers clenched together, every nerve 'roused to action,--"if you would
not insult me, never again call the woman who has had the heart to cast
such a slur upon the character of her whom we know is innocent, _my
mother_! It is not to injure your feelings that she has invented such a
vile scheme, but it is by injuring Natalie's character in your eyes, she
may banish from her heart all future happiness. Nay, do not start at
such a strange declaration from my lips; you are the only person, out
of my father's household, who has a suspicion that our happiness is not
what it once was; but since it has come to this, I will, at the risk of
disclosing to the world what it were wisdom to conceal, establish the
innocent; and rest assured that what I say is true,--this originated not
among the servants, for there is not one but would kneel and kiss the
very ground upon which our dear Sea-flower treads."
Delwood was thunderstruck.
"Indeed, I never could have mistrusted Mrs. Santon's character was so
vile!" said he; "but I can sooner believe this than that darkness is
born of light.
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