I soon found my pride was a molehill and my love a mountain. I
could not hold out by day if I did not ease my breaking heart at night.
How unfortunate! I kept my head under the bed-clothes, too; but you have
such ears. I thought I would stifle my grief, or else perhaps you would
be as wretched as I am: forgive me pray forgive me!"
"On one condition," said Mrs. Dodd, struggling with the emotion these
simple words caused her.
"Anything to be forgiven," cried Julia, impetuously. "I'll go to London.
I'll go to Botany Bay. I deserve to be hanged."
"Then, from this hour, no half-confidences between us. Dear me, you carry
in your own bosom a much harsher judge, a much less indulgent friend,
than I am. Come! trust me with your heart. Do you love him very much?
Does your happiness depend on him?"
At this point-blank question Julia put her head over Mrs. Dodd's
shoulder, not to be seen; and, clasping her tight, murmured scarce above
a whisper, "I don't know how much I love him. When he came in at that
party I felt his slave--his unfaithful adoring slave; if he had ordered
me to sing Aileen Aroon, I should have obeyed; if he had commanded me to
take his hand and leave the room, I think I should have obeyed.
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