BO: "Well, then let me tell you for your own information how
it will strike other people. I am a much older woman than you and
I warn you, you can't go on doing this sort of thing! Why should
you come down here among all of us who are friends and make
mischief and create talk?"
I felt chilled to the bone and, getting up, said:
"I think I had better leave you now, as I am tired and you are
angry."
MRS. BO (standing up and coming very close to me): "Do you not
know that I would nurse Peter Flower through yellow fever! But,
though I have lived next door to him these last three years, I
would never dream of doing what you have done to-day."
The expression on her face was so intense that I felt sorry for
her and said as gently as I could:
"I do not see why you shouldn't! Especially if you are all such
friends down here as you say you are. However, every one has a
different idea of what is right and wrong. ...I must go now!"
I was determined not to stay a moment longer and walked to the
door, but she had lost her head and said in a hard, bitter voice:
"You say every one has a different idea of right and wrong, but I
should say you have none!"
At this I left the room.
When I told Mrs. Bunbury what had happened, all she said was:
"Cat! She's jealous! Before you came down here, Peter Flower was
in love with her."
This was a great shock to me and I determined I would leave the
Grafton country, as I had already been away far too long from my
own people; so I wrote to Peter saying I was sorry not to say
good-bye to him, but that I had to go home.
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