He, too,
had said more than he intended, and he was sorry that he had hurt his
mother's feelings as he saw her evident agitation. But as he rose to
go forward and beg her pardon, she spoke.
"The person of whom we were speaking has nothing whatever to do with
Mr Irving," she said. "Joy Irving was born before her mother was
married. Mrs Irving has a most infamous past, and I would rather see
you dead than the husband of her child. You certainly would not want
your children to inherit the propensities of such a grandmother? And
remember the curse descends to the third and fourth generations. If
you doubt my words, go to the Baroness. She knows the whole story,
but has revealed it to no one but me."
Mrs Stuart left the room, closing the door behind her as she went.
She did not want to be obliged to go over the details of the story
which she had heard; she had made her statement, one which she knew
must startle and horrify her son, with his high ideals of womanly
purity, and she left him to review the situation in silence. It was
several hours before the rector left his room.
When he did, he went, not to the Baroness, but directly to Mrs
Irving. They were alone for more than an hour. When he emerged from
the room, his face was as white as death, and he did not look at Joy
as she accompanied him to the door.
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