It's making us
all miserable.'
Emma listened, expecting from phrase to phrase some word which would
be to her a terrible enlightenment But Alice had ceased, and the
word still unspoken.
'You say he sent me a message?'
She did not ask directly the cause of Mrs. Mutimer's anger. Instinct
told her that to hear the message would explain all else.
'Emma, I'm afraid to tell you. You'll blame _me_, like mother did.'
'I shan't blame you, Alice. Will you please tell me the message?'
Emma's lips seemed to speak without her volition. The rest o her
face was fixed and cold.
'He's married, Emma.'
'He asked you to tell me?'
Alice was surprised at the self-restraint proved by so quiet an
interrogation.
'Yes, he did. Emma, I'm so, so sorry! If only you'll believe I'm
sorry, Emma! He _made_ me come and tell you. He said if I didn't
you'd have to find out by chance, because he couldn't for shame tell
you himself. And he couldn't tell mother neither. I've had it all to
do. If you knew what I've gone through with mother! It's very hard
that other people should suffer so much just on his account. I am
really sorry for you, Emma.'
'Who is it he's married?' Emma asked. Probably all the last speech
had been but a vague murmur to her ears.
'Some one at Wanley.'
'A lady?'
'Yes, I suppose she's a lady.
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