"
"And that is why you chose me instead of Grace to take charge of
your keys," interrupted Edith, beginning to comprehend what had
heretofore been strange to her. "But, Mr. St. Claire, I don't
understand it at all--don't see why there was any need for so much
secrecy. Supposing you did dread neighborhood gossip, you could
not help being chosen Nina's guardian. She could not help being
crazy. Why not have told at once that there was such a person
under your charge? Wouldn't it have been better? It was no
disgrace to you that you have kept the father's trust, and cared
for his poor child," and she glanced lovingly at the pretty face
nestled against her arm, for Nina had fallen asleep.
Arthur did not answer immediately, and when he did, his voice
trembled with emotion.
"It would have been better," he said; "but when she first became
insane, I shrank from having it generally known, and the longer I
hugged the secret the harder I found it to divulge the whole. It
would look queerly, I thought, for a young man like me to be
tramelled with a crazy girl.
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