Part 24 (1/2)
Then Mr Maguire got up from his chair, and walked about the room, and Miss Mackenzie, watching him closely, could see that he was much moved. But, nevertheless, I think he had made up his mind to walk about the room beforehand. After a while he paused, and, still standing, spoke to her again across the table.
”May I ask you this question? Has Mrs Stumfold said anything to you about me?”
”I'd rather not talk about Mrs Stumfold.”
”But, surely, I may ask that. I don't think you are the woman to allow anything said behind a person's back to be received to his detriment.”
”Whatever one does hear about people one always hears behind their backs.”
”Then she has told you something, and you have believed it?”
She felt herself to be so driven by him that she did not know how to protect herself. It seemed to her that these clerical people of Littlebath had very little regard for the feelings of others in their modes of following their own pursuits.
”She has told you something of me, and you have believed her?”
repeated Mr Maguire. ”Have I not a right to ask you what she has said?”
”You have no right to ask me anything.”
”Have I not, Miss Mackenzie? Surely that is hard. Is it not hard that I should be stabbed in the dark, and have no means of redressing myself? I did not expect such an answer from you;--indeed I did not.”
”And is not it hard that I should be troubled in this way? You talk of stabbing. Who has stabbed you? Is it not your own particular friend, whom you described to me as the best person in all the world?
If you and she fall out why should I be brought into it? Once for all, Mr Maguire, I won't be brought into it.”
Now he sat down and again paused before he went on with his talk.
”Miss Mackenzie,” he said, when he did speak. ”I had not intended to be so abrupt as I fear you will think me in that which I am about to say; but I believe you will like plain measures best.”
”Certainly I shall, Mr Maguire.”
”They are the best, always. If, then, I am plain with you, will you be plain with me also? I think you must guess what it is I have to say to you.”
”I hate guessing anything, Mr Maguire.”
”Very well; then I will be plain. We have now known each other for nearly a year, Miss Mackenzie.”
”A year, is it? No, not a year. This is the beginning of June, and I did not come here till the end of last August. It's about nine months, Mr Maguire.”
”Very well; nine months. Nine months may be as nothing in an acquaintance, or it may lead to the closest friends.h.i.+p.”
”I don't know that we have met so very often. You have the parish to attend to, Mr Maguire.”
”Of course I have--or rather I had, for I have left Mr Stumfold.”
”Left Mr Stumfold! Why, I heard you preach yesterday.”
”I did preach yesterday, and shall till he has got another a.s.sistant.
But he and I are parted as regards all friendly connection.”
”But isn't that a pity?”