All the various facts, statements,
indications as to Kitty's behavior, which through the most diverse
channels had been flowing steadily towards her for weeks past, were now
surging through her mind and memory--a grievous, damning host. And every
now and then, as she caught the placards in the streets, her heart
contracted anew. Her son, her William, in what should have been the
heyday of his gifts and powers, baffled, tripped up, defeated!--by his
own wife, the selfish, ungrateful, reckless child on whom he had
lavished the undeserved treasures of the most generous and untiring
love. And had she not only checked or ruined his career--was he to be
also dishonored, struck to the heart?
She could scarcely stand as she rang the bell at Hill Street, and it was
only with a great effort that she could ask her question:
"Is Mr. Ashe at home?"
"Mr. Ashe, my lady, is, I believe, just going out," said Wilson. "Her
ladyship arrived just about an hour ago, and that detained him."
Elizabeth betrayed nothing. The training of her class held good.
"Are they in the library?" she asked--"or up-stairs?"
Wilson replied that he believed her ladyship was in her room, and Mr.
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