Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/204

192 suddenly she started up and left the room when that person came—whom she took good care not to let us catch a glimpse of, and who Arthur, with such an air of mystery, told us was his mamma's friend?"

"Yes Rose, I remember it all; and I can forgive your uncharitable conclusions; for perhaps, if I did not know her myself, I should put all these things together, and believe the same as you do; but thank God, I do know her; and I should be unworthy the name of a man, if I could believe anything that was said against her, unless I heard it from her own lips.—I should as soon believe such things of you Rose."

"Oh, Gilbert!"

"Well, do you think I could believe anything of the kind,—whatever the Wilsons and Millwards dared to whisper?"

"I should hope not indeed!"

"And why not?—Because I know you—Well, and I know her just as well."