But Edward just had to comfort that unhappy young man
whose father he had known all his life. And what made it all the
worse was that young Selmes could not afford to keep the horse
even. Edward recollected this, immediately after he had made the
offer, and said quickly:
"Of course I mean that you should stable the horse at Branshaw
until you have time to turn round or want to sell him and get a
better."
Nancy went straight home and told all this to Leonora who was
lying down. She regarded it as a splendid instance of Edward's
quick consideration for the feelings and the circumstances of the
distressed. She thought it would cheer Leonora up--because it
ought to cheer any woman up to know that she had such a
splendid husband. That was the last girlish thought she ever had.
For Leonora, whose headache had left her collected but miserably
weak, turned upon her bed and uttered words that were amazing
to the girl:
"I wish to God," she said, "that he was your husband, and not mine.
We shall be ruined. We shall be ruined. Am I never to have a
chance?" And suddenly Leonora burst into a passion of tears. She
pushed herself up from the pillows with one elbow and sat
there--crying, crying, crying, with her face hidden in her hands
and the tears falling through her fingers.
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