"
"It is interesting to know that you accuse your only daughter of
being the vilest of hypocrites," said Mrs. Almond.
"I don't see what difference her being my only daughter makes. It is
better to accuse one than a dozen. But I don't accuse any one.
There is not the smallest hypocrisy about Catherine, and I deny that
she even pretends to be miserable."
The Doctor's idea that the thing was a "blind" had its intermissions
and revivals; but it may be said on the whole to have increased as he
grew older; together with his impression of Catherine's blooming and
comfortable condition. Naturally, if he had not found grounds for
viewing her as a lovelorn maiden during the year or two that followed
her great trouble, he found none at a time when she had completely
recovered her self-possession. He was obliged to recognise the fact
that if the two young people were waiting for him to get out of the
way, they were at least waiting very patiently. He had heard from
time to time that Morris was in New York; but he never remained there
long, and, to the best of the Doctor's belief, had no communication
with Catherine. He was sure they never met, and he had reason to
suspect that Morris never wrote to her. After the letter that has
been mentioned, she heard from him twice again, at considerable
intervals; but on none of these occasions did she write herself. On
the other hand, as the Doctor observed, she averted herself rigidly
from the idea of marrying other people.
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