Why
don't you save yourself, child?"
I shook my head helplessly.
"If it were anything in which money could help I would sell all I have
rather than see you marry without love."
"Money has nothing to do with it. And--it is too late to do anything."
"It would never be too late so long as you were not his wife. They are
deceived. Luke L'Estrange was the truest and most candid soul alive. Yet
what a web of lies has grown up about him. Shall I tell you, Bawn, what
Joan told me before she died?"
"If it eases you."
"I have to share it with some one, and I can trust you not to think
hardly of my poor Joan."
I wondered what was coming, but I had not long to wait. My godmother
looked at me again, straight into my eyes, as though she would see to
the depths of my soul.
"I have forgiven her, poor dear soul, with all my heart," she said. "If
I thought you could judge her hardly I would not tell you; but I think
you will not judge her hardly. You see, she loved Luke. He had a way
with women. She was always delicate and sickly, and he was sorry for
her. He used to sit by her and talk to her. She loved him and she
thought that he loved her, or would love her if I were out of the way.
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