"That is my line, aunt," said John. "Elinor is right. We might sit and make conversation, but of course this is the only subject we are thinking of. It's very kind of you to take me into the consultation. Of course I am in a kind of way the nearest in relation, and the only man in the family--except my father--and I know a little about law, and all that. Now let me hear formally, as if I knew nothing about it (and, in fact, I know very little), what the question is. Elinor has met someone who--who has proposed to her--not to put too fine a point upon it," said John, with a smile that was somewhat ghastly--"and she has accepted him. Congratulations are understood, but here there arises a hitch."
"There arises no hitch. Mamma is dissatisfied (which mamma generally is) chiefly because she does not know Mr. Compton; and some wretched old woman, who doesn't know him either, has written to her--to her and also to me--telling us a pack of lies," said Elinor, indignantly, "to which I do not give the least credence for a moment--not for a moment!"
"That's all very well for you," said John, "it's quite simple; but for us, Elinor--that is, for your mother and me, as you are good enough to allow me to have a say in the matter--it's not so simple. We feel, you know, that, like Cæsar's wife, our Elinor's--husband"--he could not help making a grimace as he said that word, but no one saw or suspected it--"should be above suspicion."
"Well, we must do something about it, don't you see? Probably it will be as easy as possible for him to clear himself." (The dis-Honourable Phil! Good heavens! to think it was a man branded with such a name that was to marry Elinor! For a moment he was silenced by the thought, as if some one had given him a blow.)
"To clear himself!" said Elinor. "And do you think I will permit him to be asked to clear himself? Do you think I will allow him to believe for a moment that _I_ believed anything against him? Do you think I will take the word of a spiteful old woman?"
"Old women are not always spiteful, and they are sometimes right." John put out his hand to prevent Mrs. Dennistoun from speaking, which, indeed, she had no intention of doing. "I don't mean so, of course, in Mr. Compton's case--and I don't know what has been said."