The elder of the two
shrinks--and who can wonder at it?--from any discussion connected with
the future which requires her presence so soon as the day after the
funeral. The younger one appears to have expressed no opinion on the
subject. As I understand it, she suffers herself to be passively guided
by her sister's example. My interview, therefore, will take place with
Miss Garth alone--and it is a very great relief to me to know it."
He spoke the last words with more emphasis and energy than seemed
habitual to him. Mr. Clare stopped, and looked at his guest attentively.
"You are almost as old as I am, sir," he said. "Has all your long
experience as a lawyer not hardened you yet?"
"I never knew how little it had hardened me," replied Mr. Pendril,
quietly, "until I returned from London yesterday to attend the funeral.
I was not warned that the daughters had resolved on following their
parents to the grave. I think their presence made the closing scene of
this dreadful calamity doubly painful, and doubly touching. You saw
how the great concourse of people were moved by it--and _they_ were in
ignorance of the truth; _they_ knew nothing of the cruel necessity which
takes me to the house this morning.
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