life a
burden to her. "I don't know with what truth. I don't know whether there
is what people call any harm in it. It is possible he is only amusing
himself. I can't tell. But it has made Elinor miserable this whole
autumn through, that and a multitude of other things. She would not let
me send for him when I got there. It had gone so far as that. She said
that the whole business disgusted him, that he had lost all interest in
her, that to hear it was over might be a relief to him, but nothing
more. Her heart has turned altogether against him, John, in every way.
There have been a hundred things. You think I am almost wickedly glad to
have her home. And so I am. I cannot deny it. To have her here even in
her trouble makes all the difference to me. But I am not so careless as
you think. I can look beyond to other things. I shrink as much as you do
from such a collapse of her life. I don't want her to give up her duty,
and now that there is the additional bond of the child----"

"Oh, for heaven's sake," said John, "leave the child out of it! I want
to hear nothing of the child!"

"That is one chief point, however, that we want your advice about, John.
A man, I suppose, does not understand it; but her baby is everything to
Elinor: and I suppose--unless he can really be proved as guilty as she
thinks--he could take the child away."

John smiled to himself a little bitterly: this was why he was sent for
in such a hurry, not for the sake of his society, or from any affection
for him, but that he might tell them what steps to take to secure them
in possession of the child. He said nothing for some time, nor did Mrs.
Dennistoun, whose disappointment in the coldness of his response was
considerable, and who waited in vain for him to speak. At length she
said, almost tremblingly, "I am afraid you disapprove very much of the
whole business, John."

"I hope it has not been done rashly," he said. "The husband's mere
absence, though heartless as--as I should have expected of the
fellow--would yet not be reason enough to satisfy any--court."

"Any court! You don't think she means to bring him before any court? She
wants only to be left alone. We ask nothing from him, not a penny, not
any money--surely, surely no revenge--only not to be molested. There
shall not be a word said on our side, if he will but let her alone."

John shook his head. "It all depends upon the view the man takes of it,"
he said.

Now this was very cold c