Carbuncle knew
nothing now which she had not known when she made her petition to be taken
to Portray. And this was the woman, too, who had borrowed her money last
week, whom she had entertained for months at Portray, and who had
pretended to be her bosom-friend. "You are quite right in getting off to
Scotland as soon as possible--if they will let you go," continued Mrs.
Carbuncle. "Of course you could not stay here. Up to Friday night it can
be permitted; but the servants had better wait upon you in your own
rooms."
"How dare you talk to me in that way?" screamed Lizzie.
"When a woman has committed perjury," said Mrs. Carbuncle, holding up both
her hands in awe and grief, "nothing too bad can possibly be said to her.
You are amenable to the outraged laws of the country, and it is my belief
that they can keep you upon the treadmill and bread and water for months
and months, if not for years." Having pronounced this terrible sentence,
Mrs. Carbuncle stalked out of the room. "That they can sequester your
property for your creditors I know," she said, returning for a moment and
putting her head within the door.
The carriage was ready, and it was time for Lizzie to start if she
intended to keep her appointment with Mr.
Pages:
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093