"
"She has left off trying to gloss it over with me, except so far as
it is part of her nature. She did at first, but she knows it is of
no use now."
"Really, Lenore, you must be going too far."
"I have shocked you; but you can't conceive what it is to live with
perpetual falsity. No, I can't use any other word. I am always
mistrusting and being angered, and my senses of right and wrong get
so confused, that it is like groping in a maze." Her eyes were full
of tears, but she exclaimed, "Tell me, Joanna, was there ever
anything between Camilla and Mr. Poynsett?"
"Why bring that up again now?"
"Why did it go off?" insisted Lenore.
"Because Mrs. Poynsett could not give up and turn into a dowager, as
if she were not the mistress herself."
"Was that all?"
"So it was said."
"I want to get to the bottom of it. It was not because Lord Tyrrell
came in the way."
"I am afraid they thought so here."
"Then," said Eleonora, in a hard, dry way, "I know the reason of our
being brought back here, and of a good deal besides."
"My dear Lena, I am very sorry for you; but I think you had better
keep this out of your mind, or you will fall into a hard, bitter,
suspicious mood.
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