I can well
understand what a shock it must be to you; we have just been saying it
must be as bad for you as it would be to us if our old Donald should turn
out to have been a hidden murderer all these years that he has lived with
us; I really could have as soon suspected Donald as that white-haired
respectable old man who used to come and see you at East Chester."
Ellinor felt that she must say something. "It is a terrible shock--poor
old man! and no friend near him, even Mr. Osbaldistone giving evidence
again him. Oh, dear, dear! why did I ever come to Rome?"
"Now, my dear, you must not let yourself take an exaggerated view of the
case. Sad and shocking as it is to have been so deceived, it is what
happens to many of us, though not to so terrible a degree; and as to your
coming to Rome having anything to do with it--"
(Mrs. Forbes almost smiled at the idea, so anxious was she to banish the
idea of self-reproach from Ellinor's sensitive mind, but Ellinor
interrupted her abruptly:)
"Mrs. Forbes! did he--did Canon Livingstone tell you that I must leave to-
morrow? I must go to England as fast as possible to do what I can for
Dixon."
"Yes, he told us you were thinking of it, and it was partly that made me
force myself in upon you to-night. I think, my love, you are mistaken in
feeling as if you were called upon to do more than what the canon tells
me Miss Monro has already done in your name--engaged the best legal
advice, and spared no expense to give the suspected man every chance.
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