"The matter must never be discussed between us.
I tell you frankly that I should not care for the whole world to know
your story. I know it--the duke and duchess know it. There is no need
for it to be known to others; and, believe me, Madaline, it will never
be and need never be known--we may keep it out of sight. It is not
likely that I shall ever repent, for it will never be of any more
importance to me than it is now."
He paused abruptly, for her blue eyes were looking wistfully at him.
"What is it, Madaline?" he asked, gently.
"I wish you would let me tell you all about it--how my mother, so gentle
and good, came to marry my father, and how he fell--how he was tempted
and fell. May I tell you, Lord Arleigh?"
"No," he replied, after a short pause, "I would rather not hear it. The
duchess has told me all I care to know. It will be better, believe me,
for the whole story to die away. If I had wished to hear it, I should
have asked you to tell it me."
"It would make me happier," she said; "I should know then that there was
no mistake."
"There is no mistake, my darling--the duchess has told me; and it is not
likely that she has made a mistake, is it?"
"No.
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