His look expressed such unutterable pain that Christian came forward
and spoke out strongly, almost angrily.

"It is fear that makes a liar, even as harshness and injustice create deceit
and underhandedness. Love a child and trust it, and if it does wrong,
punish it neither cruelly nor unfairly, and it will never tell falsehoods.
Titia will not--she shall not, as long as I am alive to keep her to the
truth."

Dr. Grey looked fondly at his wile's young, glowing face and even Miss
Gascoigne, the hard, worldly woman, viewing all things in her narrow,
worldly way, was silenced for the time. Then she began again, pouring
out a torrent of explanations and self-exculpations, which soon resolved
themselves into the simple question, What was to be done? There--she
ended.

"Don't ask me to do any thing. I will not. I wash my hands of the
whole matter. If the story be true, and Miss Bennett can be guilty of
conduct so indecorous, it would never do for me to be mixed up in such
an improper proceeding and if untrue, and I accused her of it, I should
find myself in a very unpleasant position. So, Mrs. Grey, since you
have interfered in this matter, you must carry it out on your own
responsibility. If you have taken a grudge against Miss Bennett--which
I did not expect, considering your own antecedents--you must just do as
you like concerning her. But, bless me! how the evening is slipping by.
Come, Maria, I shall hardly have time to dress for the vice
chancellor's."

So saying, Miss Gascoigne swept away, her silk skirts flowing behind
her. Aunt Maria followed with one pathetic glance at "dear Arnold;"