It was compatible with Kitty's innocence, though it did not relieve her vanity of the part it played in this despicable comedy of passion.

All that Mrs.Horncastle thought of now was the effect of its eventful revelation upon the man before her.

Of course, he would overlook his wife's trustfulness and business ignorance--it would seem so like his own unselfish faith! That was the fault of all unselfish goodness; it even took the color of adjacent evil, without altering the nature of either.

Mrs.Horncastle set her teeth tightly together, but her beautiful mouth smiled upon Barker, though her eyes were bent upon the tablecloth before her.
"I shall do all I can to impress your views upon her," she said at last, "though I fear they will have little weight if given as my own.

And you overrate my general influence with her." Her handsome head drooped in such a thoughtful humility that Barker instinctively drew nearer to her.