your good looks, after that fit of crying,"
Mrs. Presty admitted, "but not your good spirits. What is worrying you
now?"

"I can't help thinking of poor Kitty."

"My dear, the child wants nobody's pity. She's blowing away all her
troubles by a ride in the fresh air, on the favorite donkey that she
feeds every morning. Yes, yes, you needn't tell me you are in a false
position; and nobody can deny that it's shameful to make the child feel
it. Now listen to me. Properly understood, those two spiteful women
have done you a kindness. They have as good as told you how to protect
yourself in the time to come. Deceive the vile world, Catherine, as it
deserves to be deceived. Shelter yourself behind a respectable character
that will spare you these insults in the future." In the energy of her
conviction, Mrs. Presty struck her fist on the table, and finished in
three audacious words: "Be a Widow!"

It was plainly said--and yet Catherine seemed to be at a loss to
understand what her mother meant.

"Don't doubt about it," Mrs. Presty went on; "do it. Think of Kitty if
you won't think of yourself. In a few years more she will be a young
lady. She may have an offer of marriage which may be everything we
desire. Suppose her sweetheart's family is a religious family; and
suppose your Divorce, and the judge's remarks on it, are discovered.
What will happen then?"

"Is it possible that you are in earnest?" Catherine asked. "Have you
seriously thought of the advice that you are giving me? Setting aside
the deceit, you know as well as I do that Kitty would ask questions. Do
you think I can tell my child that her father is dead? A lie--and such a
dreadful lie as that?"

"Nonsense!" said Mrs. Presty..

"Nonsense?" Catherine repeated indignantly.

"Rank nonsense," her mother persisted. "Hasn't your situation forced
you to lie already? When the child asks why her father and her governess
have left us, haven't you been obliged to invent excuses which are lies?
If the man who was once your husband isn't as good as dead to _you_, I
should like to know what your Divorce means! My poor dear, do you think
you can go on as you are going on now? How many thousands of people
have read the newspaper account of the trial? How many hundreds of
people--interested in a handsome woman like you--will wonder why they
never see Mr. Norman? What? You will go abroad again? Go where you may,
you will attract attention; you will make an enemy of every u