human
Arthur dear, hush! no one saw me at the meeting. I had my veil down, and spoke to nobody, said the widow:
gpt
said Mrs. Vincent, with a little effort,
human
Mrs. Hilyard! cried the minister, suddenly roused.
gpt
Mrs.----; no matter what her name is. Where is she? Do you mean that she came here? They keep no watch over her. To-night of all nights in the world! If you had but stayed at home, I should not have known of her wanderings at least, he said, with vexation.
human
Now I shall have to go and look after her--she must be sent back again--she must not be allowed to escape.
gpt
Is she mad? said Mrs. Vincent, alarmed, yet relieved.
human
Don't go away, Arthur; she is not here. She said I was to tell you that she had gone back--to Alice. Who is Alice?--who is this woman? What have you to do with her? Oh! my dear boy, you are a minister, and the world is so ready to make remarks. She said you had her word. Oh, Arthur, I hope it does not mean anything you will live to repent? cried the anxious mother, fixing her jealous eyes on her son's face.
gpt
She is not like you. I cannot tell what you can have to do with such a woman--you who might----
human
It does not matter much after all, said the Nonconformist, who had been busy with his own thoughts, and had only half heard his mother's adjurations.
gpt
Like me?--what has that to do with the matter? But I daresay she will go back, as she said; and now that he is out of danger, and has not accused her, things must take their chance. Mad? It would not be wonderful if she were mad. I can sympathise with people when they are driven out of their wits. Who is this next? Another messenger from the meeting, or perhaps your deputation? I think I shall go mad after a while if I get no rest.
human
He's a-coming directly, ma'am; he's gone in for a minute to Smith's, next door, where they've got the hooping-cough. And oh, Mr. Vincent, sir, cried the woman, who had made this a pretence to express her sentiments on the more important subject,
gpt
said the triumphant landlady, who had a real stake in the matter. At this touch the minister regained his composure. He went back to his seat at the table, and took up the pen he had thrown down. A bishop could not have looked more grandly indifferent than did the Nonconformist as he turned his back upon his anxious partisan.
human
Tell the doctor to let me know how Susan is, mother, for I am busy to-night, said the young man.
gpt
I cannot leave my work just now even for Dr. Rider.