Why I advised
(perhaps I only yielded to advice) a change of name--an
assumption of a false state of widowhood--was because I earnestly
desired to place her in circumstances in which she might work out
her self-redemption; and you, sir, know how terribly the world
goes against all such as have sinned as Ruth did. She was so
young, too."
"You mistake, sir; my acquaintance has not lain so much among
that class of sinners as to give me much experience of the way in
which they are treated. But, judging from what I have seen, I
should say they meet with full as much leniency as they deserve;
and supposing they do not--I know there are plenty of sickly
sentimentalists just now who reserve all their interest and
regard for criminals--why not pick out one of these to help you
in your task of washing the blackamoor white? Why choose me to be
imposed upon--my household into which to intrude your protegee?
Why were my innocent children to be exposed to corruption? I
say," said Mr. Bradshaw, stamping his foot, "how dared you come
into this house, where you were looked upon as a minister of
religion, with a lie in your mouth? How dared you single me out,
of all people, to be gulled, and deceived, and pointed at through
the town as the person who had taken an abandoned woman into his
house to teach his daughters?"
"I own my deceit was wrong and faithless."
"Yes! you can own it, now it is found out! There is small merit
in that, I think!"
"Sir! I claim no merit.
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