Helen by Maria Edgeworth - A complete eBook in pages (391 / 460)

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Helen by Maria Edgeworth
Book, page 391 / 460

of any other company; but Lady Cecilia entered so immediately after the
general, that Miss Clarendon had no time to speak with her brother alone.
Determined, however, as she was, to get at the truth, without preface, or
even smoothing her way to her object, she rushed into the middle of things
at once. "Have you heard any reports about Miss Stanley, brother?"

"Yes."

"And you, Lady Cecilia?"

"Yes."

"What have you heard?"

Lady Cecilia was silent, looked at the general, and left it to him to speak
as much or as little as he pleased. She trusted to his laconic mode of
answering, which, without departing from truth, defied curiosity. Her trust
in him upon the present occasion was, however, a little disturbed by her
knowledge of his being at this moment particularly displeased with Helen.
But, had she known the depths as well as she knew the surface of his
character, her confidence in his caution would have been increased, instead
of being diminished by this circumstance: Helen was lost in his esteem, but
she was still under his protection; her secrets were not only sacred, but,
as far as truth and honour could admit, he would still serve and save her.
Impenetrable, therefore, was his look, and brief was his statement to his
sister. A rascally bookseller had been about to publish a book, in which
were some letters which paragraphs in certain papers had led the public
to believe were Miss Stanley's; the publication had been stopped, the
offensive chapter suppressed, and the whole impression destroyed."

"But, brother," pursued Miss Clarendon, "were the letters Miss Stanley's,
or not? You know I do not ask from idle curiosity, but from regard for Miss
Stanley;" and she turned her inquiring eyes full upon Lady Cecilia.

"I believe, my dear Esther," said Lady Cecilia, "I believe we had better
say no more; you had better inquire no further."

"That must be a bad case which can bear no inquiry," said Miss Clarendon;
"which cannot admit any further question, even from one most disposed to
think well of the person concerned--a desperately bad case."

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