She also rose from the stone seat.
"Stop just one moment, Godfrey. I didn't realize that you knew Mrs.
Crofton as well as you seem to do. I do beg of you to convey to her that
she ought to be more prudent. I'm quite serious as to the talk about Jack
Tosswill. They seem to have gone on a walk together yesterday afternoon,
and the girl at the post-office, who is often sent long distances with
telegrams and messages, saw them in the North Wood kissing one another."
Godfrey uttered an exclamation of surprise and disgust.
How extraordinary that a woman of Miss Pendarth's birth and breeding
should listen to, and believe, low village gossip!
"Really," he said at last, "that's too bad! I can't understand, Miss
Pendarth, how you can believe such a story--" He nearly added, "or allow
it to be told you!"
"I wouldn't believe everybody," she said in a low voice, "but I do
believe Jane Nichol. She's a sensible, quiet, reserved girl. She seems to
have passed quite close to them, but they were so absorbed in themselves
that they didn't see her. She told no one but her aunt, and her aunt told
me. I'm sorry to say I do believe the story, and I think you will agree
that what may be sport to your pretty friend might mean lifelong
bitterness to such a boy as Jack Tosswill.
Pages:
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310