human
And I think this is the last, said Cyril, when he returned to Miss Ankers' cottage from his father's funeral.
gpt
Bella, we can't stay here.
human
I'm sure I don't want to, replied the harassed girl, who looked worn and thin.
gpt
The place is getting on my nerves. I'll marry you as soon as you like, dear, and then we can go away. But this morning --she hesitated--
human
I received a letter from my father's relatives. They ask me to come to them.
gpt
What will you do?
human
Write and say that I am marrying you and intend to go abroad.
gpt
But, Bella, if you reside with your relatives you may be able to make a much better match.
human
Yes, said Bella with a grimace.
gpt
I might marry a Quaker. No, dear, I intend to stay with you and marry you. I have done without my relatives for all this time, and I hope to continue doing without them.
human
Bella! Bella! I have nothing to offer you.
gpt
Yourself, dear. That is all I want.
human
A stupid gift on my part, said Cyril, looking ruefully in a near mirror at his face, which was now lean and haggard.
gpt
You have the money, and also the sympathy of the public. I can offer you nothing but a dishonoured name.
human
Oh, nonsense! she said vigorously.
gpt
I won't have you talk in that way. Why, one of the newspapers referred to your father as a pioneer of Empire.
human
That is just like my father's good luck, he exclaimed;
gpt
No one knows of his shady doings, dear.
human
Well, then, he will be looked upon as a hero. It's just as well he is buried in Marshely churchyard, for some fanatic might propose to bury him in Westminster Abbey.
gpt
You will be congratulated on having such a father.
human
No! cried Cyril violently.
gpt
I won't stand that, Bella. We shall go to London next week and get married in a registry office. Miss Ankers can come with you to play propriety.
human
I rather think Dora is so busy nursing poor Mr. Pence back to health that she has no time.
gpt
Why, you don't mean to say that she loves Pence?
human
Yes and no. I won't say what may happen. She pities him for his weakness, and pity, as you know, is akin to love. Besides, only ourselves and Inspector Inglis know of the temptation to which Mr. Pence was submitted.
gpt
Why, Bella, everyone knows he saw the corpse of Huxham and held his tongue.
human
Yes, but everyone doesn't know that he took the one hundred pounds which he restored to me. He is looked upon as somewhat weak for not having informed the police of the crime, but on the whole people are sorry for him.
gpt
I shall be sorry, too, if a nice little woman like Miss Ankers marries such a backboneless creature.
human
Cyril! Cyril! have not our late troubles shown you that we must judge no one? After what we have undergone I shall never, never give an opinion about anyone again. I am sorry now that I did not behave better to poor Mrs. Vand. When my supposed father was alive I did treat her haughtily. No wonder she disliked me.
gpt
My dear, said Lister, taking her hand,
human
But I might have been kinder, said Bella, almost crying;
gpt
How do you know that she is dead and gone? asked Cyril, in so strange a tone that Bella, dashing the tears from her eyes, looked at him inquiringly.
human
She is alive,
gpt
Oh, Cyril, I am so glad! Tell me all about it.
human
I don't know that I am glad, poor soul, said Lister sadly.
gpt
The police are on her track. I didn't want to tell you, Bella, but for the last two days the papers have been full of the hunt after Mrs. Vand.
human
Why didn't Dora tell me?
gpt
I asked her not to. You have had quite enough to bear.
human
Well, now that you have told me some, tell me all.
gpt
There isn't much to tell. Some too clever landlady in Bloomsbury suspected a quiet lady lodger. It certainly was Mrs. Vand, but she became suspicious of her landlady and cleared out. Then she was seen at Putney, and afterwards someone noticed her in Hampstead. The papers having been taunting the police about the matter, they'll catch her in the end.
human
Poor Mrs. Vand! poor Mrs. Vand!
gpt
We can't help her, Bella. I wish Timson could get hold of her and induce her to stand her trial. I don't think either judge or jury would be hard on her; more, I fancy that her brain must be turned with all this misery.
human
And she has lost her husband, too, sighed Bella;