"Papa did as much for those he loved; why should I be less
thoughtful of others?"
Having once brought Miss Halliday to this frame of mind, the rest was
easy. It was agreed between them that as Valentine Hawkehurst was to be
kept in ignorance of his betrothed's claim to certain moneys now in the
shadowy under-world of Chancery, so he must be kept in ignorance of the
insurance.
It was only one more secret, and Charlotte had learned that it was
possible to keep a secret from her lover.
"I suppose before we are married I shall able to tell him everything?"
she said.
"Certainly, my dear. All I want is to test his endurance and his
prudence. If the course of events proves him worthy of being trusted, I
will trust him."
"I am not afraid of that, papa."
"Of course not, my dear. But, you see, I have to protect your interests;
and I cannot afford to see this gentleman with your eyes. I am compelled
to be prudent."
The stockbroker sighed as he said this--a sigh of utter weariness.
Remorse was unknown to him; the finer fibres upon which that chord is
struck had not been employed in the fabrication of his heart. But there
is a mental fatigue which is a spurious kind of remorse, and has all the
anguish of the nobler feeling. It is an utter weariness and prostration
of spirit--a sickness of heart and mind--a bitter longing to lie down and
die--the weariness of a beaten hound rather than of a baffled man.
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