"Of what do you accuse me?"
"Of much that I forbear to repeat now. But I will spare you--I will
leave you to your own conscience and--"
"What else, pray?"
"The law. It may seize you yet, madam, and it has a tight grip."
"I shall not remain here to be so grossly insulted. If you have
anything more to say to me, my lord, you must write."
"And you refuse to give up the child?"
"You had better put your proposals on paper, Lord Essendine. I may
consider them in my child's interests, although the separation would
be almost too bitter to bear. I may add, however, that I will consent
to nothing that does not include some settlement on myself--"
"As to that," said the lawyer, "his lordship declines to bind
himself--is it not so, my lord?"
"Quite; I will make no promises. But she will not find me ungenerous
if she will accept my terms."
And so the interview ended. There was no further reference made to the
unpleasant facts now brought to light by the letter and documents sent
over by Hyde. Mrs. Wilders, as we shall still call her, knew that she
could not dispute them; that any protest in the shape of law
proceedings would only make more public her own shame and
discomfiture. But if she was beaten she would not confess it yet; and
at least she was resolved that the enemy who had so ruthlessly
betrayed her should not enjoy his triumph.
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