human
Oh, what is it? she cried, lowering her voice so that it should not reach Marian.
gpt
Is it papa?
human
Sir Arthur is well. I have a letter from him, said Sir Edmund.
gpt
Your mother is also in good health.
human
Then who is it? demanded Honour fearfully.
gpt
Is it either of my brothers? Oh, not--not Charles?
human
Hush! let me break it to her, said Lady Antony, as Marian's pretty sparkling face, the eyes wide with astonishment, appeared at the window.
gpt
Dear Marian, she took the girl's arm and led her back into the room,
human
I have something to say to you.
gpt
What was it--cholera?
human
No, unfortunately. Honour's eyes met his in perplexity.
gpt
It was murder. This morning I received news that Captain Cowper and Mr Nisbet had been wounded in a street-tumult at Agpur, but that Cowper's injuries were so slight he did not wish his wife alarmed about them. To-night your father sends a runner to say that the poor fellows were pursued and murdered outside the city.
human
How dreadful!
gpt
Dreadful indeed, said Sir Edmund gloomily.
human
I have no doubt that Sher Singh will be able to clear himself of any complicity in the crime, but I fear he must have shown culpable weakness. And weakness is difficult to distinguish from wickedness at a time when men's passions are excited, as they are bound to be by this news.
gpt
But what does it signify about Sher Singh? It is poor Charles we have to think of, and poor, poor Marian!
human
Pardon me; we have the whole question of the treatment of native states, the whole principle of justice to the native, to think of. Eyes blinded by the natural, though unholy, desire for revenge are little fitted to see clearly. There is grave reason to fear that even now hasty steps have been taken, which may compromise our future action. I understand that young Charteris crossed the frontier, or was about to cross it, on the news of the outbreak. My brother reports that he has ordered him to return immediately, but it is almost impossible that the harm has not been done.
gpt
What harm? demanded Honour.
human
Mr Charteris hoped to save poor Charles, of course. Then, when he knew he was too late for that, he would try to rescue his body.
gpt
That is quite out of the question, he said,
human
You don't mean that Marian will never know where her husband is buried--never be able to visit his grave?
gpt
It is highly probable. My dear young lady, what can it signify where our vile bodies lie? They are in God's keeping, whether cast out on the face of the ground or laid in a churchyard at home.
human
Oh, don't! Honour could have shaken Sir Edmund.
gpt
Can't you see? Oh, please don't say anything of that kind to Marian, as if she had not enough to bear already.
human
I do not think I introduced the subject----
gpt
I must see how poor Marian is,