‘But, Sir,’ Mary faintly repeated: ‘for four long weeks I have failed
To come and cast on you my burden; such grief for you always
prevailed!
My heart has so bled for you!’ The old man burst on her speech:
‘You’ve chosen a likely time, Miss! a pretty occasion to preach!’
And was it not outrageous, that now, of all times, one should come
With incomprehensible pity! Far better had Mary been dumb.