And I knew it
was vain to try to show him the difference between deliberate
falsehood, which was abhorrent to Dermot, and the exaggerations and
mystifications to which his uncle's solemnity always prompted him. I
appealed to the county paper; but he had been abroad at the time, and
had, moreover, been told that the facts had been hushed up.
Happily, he had some trust in my veracity, and let me prove my
perfect alibi for Harold as well as for Dermot. When I represented
how those two were the only men among some hundreds who had shown
either courage or coolness, he granted it with the words, "True,
true. Of course, of course. That's the way good blood shows itself.
Hereditary qualities are sure to manifest themselves."
Then he let me exonerate Harold from the charge of intemperance,
pointing out that not even after the injury and operation, nor after
yesterday's cold and fatigue, had he touched any liquor; but I don't
think the notion of teetotalism was gratifying, even when I called it
a private, individual vow. Nor could I make out whether his
Australian life was known, and I was afraid to speak of it, lest I
should be betraying what need never be mentioned. Of Viola's
adventure, to my surprise, her uncle did not make much, but he had
heard of that from the fountain-head, unpolluted by Stympson gossip;
and, moreover, Lady Diana had been so disproportionately angry as to
produce a reaction in him.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154