She would
keep guard for both of them. Their purity of motive, their high purpose,
would save them from the danger of anything vulgar or ridiculous.
Of course they would have to be careful. There must be no breath of
gossip, no food for evil tongues. About that she was determined even
more for his sake than her own. It would be fatal to his career. She
was quite in agreement with the popular demand, supposed to be peculiarly
English, that a public man's life should be above reproach. Of what use
these prophets without self-control; these social reformers who could not
shake the ape out of themselves? Only the brave could give courage to
others. Only through the pure could God's light shine upon men.
It was vexing his having moved round the corner, into North Street. Why
couldn't the silly woman have been content where she was. Living under
one roof, they could have seen one another as often as was needful
without attracting attention. Now, she supposed, she would have to be
more than ever the bosom friend of Mrs. Phillips--spend hours amid that
hideous furniture, surrounded by those bilious wallpapers.
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