She associates these discoveries with me because I first disturbed
her vanity; but the beauty of Jennie Burton's life, the dastardly
behavior of Sibley, and the deep humiliation received through him,
with other circumstances, have all combined to bring about the
revelation. And yet, confound it all! I did act the stupid Pharisee
on several occasions, and I might as well own it both to her and
myself. A Pharisee is a fool 'per se.' Well, I'm sorry to say, her
outlook for life is dark at best, even if she were not so fearfully
rash and unbalanced. As it is I expect to hear some sad story of
Ida Mayhew before many years pass. I'll try to brighten a few days
for her, however, before I go to town, and then the farther we can
drift apart the better. How delightful, in contrast, is the sense
of rest and security that Jennie Burton always inspires in spite
of her sad mystery."
Chapter XLI. The Protestant Confessional.
Ida's sleep was almost as deep and quiet, and when her mother stole
in to look at her from time to time the following morning, her face
was as colorless, as if she had taken the drug which Van Berg's
heel had ground into the earth; but Mrs.
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