She
had been left an income by each of her husbands, upon either of which
incomes she might have lived at ease; but they had a strong suspicion,
soon entirely justified, that while spending John's money, she had been
saving up far more than her own. But in the discussion, John held to it
that, as she had once been the wife of his father, he would spare her so
far--provided she had nowise impoverished either of the estates. He would
insist only upon her immediate departure.
"Yes, little one," said my uncle, one summer evening, as he and I talked
together, seated alone in the wilderness, "what we call misfortune is
always the only good fortune. Few will say _yes_ in response, but Truth
is independent of supporters, being justified by her children.
"Until _misfortune_ found us," he went on, "my brother and I had indeed
loved one another, but with a love so poor that a wicked woman was able
to send it to sleep. To what she might have brought us, had she had full
scope, God only knows: _now_ all the women in hell could not separate
us!"
"And all the women in paradise would but bring you closer!" I ventured to
add.
The day after our marriage, which took place within a month of our return
from Paris, John went to Rising, on a visit to lady Cairnedge of anything
but ceremony, and took his uncles and myself with him.
"Will you tell her ladyship," he said to the footman, "that Mr.
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