Read Online Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope - Free Book Online

advice,’
    ‘If he tells me that I had better not travel with my cousin George I shall certainly not take his advice. Moreover, I should be careful to let him know how much I was offended by any such counsel from him. It would show a littleness on his part, and a suspicion of which I cannot suppose him to be capable.’ Alice, as she said this, got up from her seat and walked about the room. When she had finishedshe stood at one of the windows with her back to her visitor. There was silence between them for a minute or two, during which Lady Macleod was deeply considering how best she might speak the terrible words, which, as Alice’s nearest female relative, she felt herself bound to utter. At last she collected her thoughts and her courage, and spoke out.
    ‘My dear Alice, I need hardly say that if youhad a mother living, or any person with you filling the place of a mother, I should not interfere in this matter.’
    ‘Of course. Aunt Macleod, if you think I am wrong you have quite a right to say so.’
    ‘I do think you are wrong, — very wrong, indeed; and if you persist in this I am afraid I must say that I shall think you wicked. Of course Mr Grey cannot like you to travel with George Vavasor.’

    ‘And why not, aunt?’ Alice, as she asked this question, turned round and confronted Lady Macleod boldly. She spoke with a steady voice, and fixed her eyes upon the old lady’s face, as though determined to show that she had no fear of what might be said to her.
    ‘Why not, Alice? Surely you do not wish me to say why not.’
    ‘But I do wish you to say why not How can I defend myself till the accusationis made?’
    ‘You are now engaged to marry Mr Grey, with the consent and approbation of all your friends. Two years ago you had — had —’
    ‘Had what, aunt? If you mean to say that two years ago I was engaged to my cousin George you are mistaken. Three years ago I told him that under certain conditions I would become engaged to him. But my conditions did not suit him, nor his me, and no engagementwas ever made. Mr Grey knows the history of the whole thing. As far as it was possible I have told him everything that took place.’
    ‘The fact was, Alice, that George Vavasor’s’ mode of life was such that an engagement with him would have been absolute madness.’
    ‘Dear aunt, you must excuse me if I say that I cannot discuss George Vavasor’s mode of life. If I were thinking of becoming his wifeyou would have a perfect right to discuss it, because of your constant kindness to me. But as matters are he is simply a cousin; and as I like him and you do not, we had better say nothing about him.’
    ‘I must say this — that after what has passed, and at the present crisis of your life—’
    ‘Dear aunt, I’m not in any crisis.’
    ‘Yes you are, Alice; in the most special crisis of a girl’s life. Youare still a girl, but you are the promised wife of a very worthy man, who will look to you for all his domestic happiness. George Vavasor has the name, at least, of being very wild.’
    ‘The worthy man and the wild man must fight it out between them. If I were going away with George by himself, there might be something in what you say.’
    ‘That would be monstrous.’
    ‘Monstrous or not, it isn’t whatI’m about to do. Kate and I have put our purses together, and are going to have an outing for our special fun and gratification. As we should be poor travellers alone, George has promised to go with his sister. Papa knows all about it, and never thought of making any objection’
    Lady Macleod shook her head. She did not like to say anything against Mr Vavasor before his daughter; but the shakingof her head was intended to signify that Mr Vavasor’s assent in such a matter was worth nothing.
    ‘I can only say again, ’ said Lady Macleod, ‘that I think Mr Grey will be displeased, — and that he will have very great cause for displeasure. And I think, moreover, that his approbation ought to be