All this, said Margaret, with surprise, should have made you look upon me with compassion instead of something like insult.
Oh, compassion, he cried, to you! I should have thought that the worst insult of all. You are not a person to be pitied. However I may have offended, I have always felt that
The end of this statement was part of the process of running away. Indeed, he was very much frightened, and felt the falseness of his position extremely. He had not a word to say for himself. To upbraid her at a moment when her home, her last shelter, was probably about to be taken from her, and herself thrown upon the world with her helpless child he, perhaps, being the only person who had any right to help her was the most impossible thing in the world. And though his opinion had no time or occasion to have changed, it had always been an opinion founded upon nothing. A more curious state of mind could scarcely be. He was dislodged from his position at the point of Margarets sword, so to speak. And he had never had any ground for that position, or right to have assumed it; and yet he was still there in mind, though in word and profession he had run away. Margaret did not understand this complicated state of mind. She was half amused by the dismay in his face, by his too swift and complete change of front. The amende which he had made was as complete as any apology and confession could be, though it was an apology by implication, rather than a direct denial of blame. How could I? is different from I did not. But she did not dwell upon this.
Of course, she said, I have no right not to accept what you say, though it is, perhaps, strangely expressed. And I scarcely know what there is I can explain to you. My aunt feared this that has taken place, before I did: she naturally thought less of her sons deficiencies. She was so imprudent, as I thought it, as to warn the girl of things she would do to prevent it. I believe
there was really nothing that could have been done to prevent it. And then she was equally imprudent in letting him go to town, and thus giving him the opportunity. She thought she could secure him by putting him in the hands of the clergyman, who never saw him at all. I feared very much how it would be, and poor Gervase was several times on the point of betraying himself. Perhaps, if I had sought his confidence But his mother would not have paid any attention to what I could say. And I dont know what could have been done to prevent it.
Why, he is next to an idiot!
Oh no, cried Margaret, half offended. Gervase is not an idiot. He has gleams of understanding, quite almost, as clear as any one. He knows what he wants, and though you may think his mind has no steadiness, you will find he always comes back to his point. He has a kind of cleverness, even, at times. Oh no; Aunt Piercey examined into all that. They could not make him out incapable of managing his own affairs. To be sure, he has not had any to manage up to this time. And now that he has this sharp Patty behind him, said Margaret, with a half smile
Then you think nothing can be done?
What could be done? You could not do anything in Uncle Giles lifetime to turn his only child out of his inheritance.
It is you, said Colonel Piercey, who are imputing intentions now. I had no such idea. I think my business as next-of-kin is to defend the poor fellow. But the woman; that is a different thing.
The woman is his wife. I dont want to assume any unnatural impartiality. But, after all, is he likely ever to have had a better wife? I believe she will be an excellent wife to Gervase. One of his own class, I hope, would not have married him.
Why do you say, I hope? Is that not worse than anything that could be said?
Perhaps, said Margaret. Poor Gervase is not an idiot, but neither is he just like other people. And a girl might have been driven into it, and then might have found She added, with a little shiver, It is the best thing that could have happened for him to marry Patty. I hate it, of course. How could I do otherwise? But as far as he himself is concerned
You are a great philosopher, Cousin Meg.
Do you think so? Half resentful as she was, and not more than half satisfied with Colonel Pierceys explanations, he was yet the only person in the world to whom she could speak with freedom; and it was a relief to her. She will look after Uncle Giles comfort, and he will get to like her, she continued. She will rule the household with a rod of iron. Margaret laughed, though her face settled down the next moment into a settled gravity. They will have no society, but they will not want it. She will keep them amused. Perhaps it is the best thing that could have happened, she said.
And you? and the boy? He stopped and looked at her standing among the roses, which were very luxuriant in the last climax of maturity, full blown, shedding their leaves, just about to topple over from that height of life into the beginning of decay. Margaret had no trace of decay about her, but she, too, was in the full height of life, the fulfilment of promise, standing at the mezzo di cammin , and full of all capabilities. She did not look up at him, but answered with a half-smile,