She wanted nothing, only
that he should go back, and send her Janet. She tried once more to
master the contents of Miss Ray's letter, but she was too dizzy; and
when Janet came in, she could only hold it out to her.
"Oh!" said Janet, "poor old Maria has forestalled me. Yes, mother,
it is what I meant to tell you, only I thought you could not bear a
fresh shock last night."
"Married! Oh, Janet; why thus?"
"Because we wished to avoid the gossip and conventionality. My uncle
and aunt were to be avoided."
"Let me hear at once who it is," said Caroline, with the sharpness of
misery.
"It is Professor Demetrius Hermann, a most able lecturer, whose
course we have been following. I met him a year ago, at the table
d'hote, at Zurich, where he delivered a series of lectures on
physiology on a new and original system. He is now going on with
them in Scotland, where his wonderful acuteness and originality have
produced an immense sensation, and I have no doubt that in his hands
this discovery of my father's will receive its full development."
There was no apology in her tone; it was rather that of one who was
defying censure; and her mother could only gasp out—-
"How long?"
"Three weeks. When we heard you were returning, we thought it would
save much trouble and difficulty to secure ourselves against
contingencies, and profit by Scottish facilities.
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