Gerald to subscribe or sign
articles. I am sure I would subscribe any amount," cried the poor
little woman, once more falling into tears--"a thousand pounds if I
had it, Frank--only to make him hear reason; for why should he leave
Wentworth, where he can do what he likes, and nobody will interfere
with him? The Bishop is an old friend of my father's, and I am sure
he never would say anything; and as for candles and crosses
and--anything he pleases, Frank--"

Here poor Louisa paused, and put her hand on his arm, and looked up
wistfully into his face. She wanted to convince herself that she was
right, and that the faltering dread she had behind all this, of
something more mysterious than candles or crosses--something which she
did not attempt to understand--was no real spectre after all. "Oh,
Frank, I am sure I never would oppose him, nor your father, nor
anybody; and why should he go and take some dreadful step, and upset
everything?" said Mrs Wentworth. "Oh, Frank! we will not even have
enough to live upon; and as for me, if Gerald leaves me, how shall I
ever hold up my head again, or how will anybody know how to behave to
me? I can't call myself Miss Leighton again, after being married so
long; and if I am not his wife, what shall I be?" Her crying became
hysterical as she came back to this point; and Mr Wentworth sat by her
trying to soothe her, as wretched as herself.

"But I must see Gerald, Louisa," said the Curate; "he has never
written to me about this. Perhaps things have not gone so far as you
think; but as for the crosses and the candles, you know, and not being
interfered with--"

"I would promise to do anything he likes," cried the weeping woman. "I
never would worry him any more about anything. After aunt Leonora was
here, perhaps I said things I should not have said; but, oh Frank,
whatever he likes to do I am sure I will give in to it. I don't
_really_ mind seeing him preach in his surplice, only you know poor
papa was so _very_ Low-Church; and as for the candles, what are they
to pleasing one's husband? Oh, Frank, if you would only tell him--I
can't argue about things like a man--tell him nobody will ever
interfere, and he shall do whatever he pleases. I trust to you to say
_everything_," said the poor wife. "You can reason with him and
explain things. Nobody understands Gerald like you. You will not
forsake me in my trouble, Frank? I thought immediately of you. I knew
you could help us, if anybody