" Then followed
an account of her wedding.
This letter Jane did not read to the doctor--no
part of it, in fact. She did not even mention its
receipt, except to say that the wedding had taken
place in Geneva, where the Frenchman's mother
lived, it being impossible, Lucy said, for her to come
home, and that Maria Collins, who was staying with
her, had been the only one of her old friends at the
ceremony. Neither did she read it all to Martha.
The old nurse was growing more feeble every year
and she did not wish her blind faith in her bairn
disturbed.
For many days she kept the letter locked in her
desk, not having the courage to take it out again
and read it. Then she sent for Captain Holt, the
only one, beside Martha, with whom she could discuss
the matter. She knew his strong, honest nature,
and his blunt, outspoken way of giving vent to his
mind, and she hoped that his knowledge of life might
help to comfort her.
"Married to one o' them furriners, is she?" the
captain blurted out; "and goin' to keep right on
livin' the lie she's lived ever since she left ye?
You'll excuse me, Miss Jane,--you've been a mother,
and a sister and everything to her, and you're nearer
the angels than anybody I know.
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