'
'She who waked him when he ought to have slept hath to bear the
blame, not I, my lord.'
'Thou shouldst, I say, have kept better watch. But tell me whom
meanest thou by that same SHE?'
'She who was found in his chamber, my lord,' said mistress Watson,
compressing her lips, as if, come what might, she would stand on the
foundation of the truth.
'Ah?--By the way, I would gladly understand how it came to be known
throughout the castle that thou didst find her there? I have the
assurance of my lady, my lord marquis, and my lord Charles, that
never did one of them utter word so to slander an orphan as thou
hast now done in my hearing. Who then can it be but her who is at
the head of the meinie of this house, who hath misdemeaned herself
thus to the spreading amongst those under her of evil reports and
surmises affecting her lord's cousin, mistress Dorothy Vaughan?'
'You wrong me grievously, my lord,' cried mistress Watson, red with
the wrath of injury and undeserved reproof.
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