"But it is not my intention to trouble you with matters that concern
me alone," he pursued, without varying his intonations. "As I
anticipated, Mr. Chilton declines explaining the ugly story relative
to his eariier career of dissipation and deceit, which I forwarded
to you. He indulges, instead, in a tirade of personal abuse touching
my right to control you, declaring his purpose to pursue you with
letters and attentions until he shall be discarded by yourself. We
will not stay to discuss the gentlemanliness and delicacy of his
behavior in this regard. I merely declare, that, having had a fair
opportunity of honest confession or denial of statements detrimental
to his principles and pursuits, and having shirked both, he has
placed himself outside the pale of respectful consideration. Has he
written to you since his receipt of my letter?"
"No!"
Mabel was staring at a figure in the carpet, on a line with her
feet. Had she regarded her brother never so attentively, she would
have detected no change in his countenance. He did not prepare
questions without also studying how to deliver them.
"I am glad he has the moral decency to forbear carrying out his
threat of persecution."
He could say it with the greater hardihood in the remembrance that
the "persecution" had been attempted.
"I wish he had written!" rejoined Mabel, abruptly, but without
passion. "He was right to protest against accepting his dismissal
from any other than myself."
She had not removed her eyes from the spot on the carpet, or lowered
the paper screen. She looked like a statue and spoke like an
automaton.
Mr. Aylett's nostrils quivered ominously.
"Is it your wish to recommence the correspondence I have ended?"
"You know that I would strike off my right hand sooner than do it.
But if he had written to me, I should have answered his letter, if
it had been only to bid him farewell. Since he has not chosen to do
this, I cannot take the initiative."
If Winston had never entertained a favorable opinion of his own
sagacity prior to hearing this avowal, it would have forced itself
upon him now. How timely was the thought, how felicitous the
accident, that had aided him to ward off the disaster of renewed
intercourse!
Involuntarily his fingers crept nearer to the closed portfolio.
"No good could have come of that!" returned he coldly. "When an
amputation is to be performed, wise people submit to it without
useless preliminaries. The exchange of farewells in this case would
be inexpedient in the highest degree. You would compromise yourself
by continued acknowledgment of this fellow's acquaintance. My will
is that you and the world should forget, as soon as it can be done,
that you ever saw or heard of him. The connection was degrading."