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Harleigh, throwing down his book, walked hastily to Mrs. Maple, and said, in a low voice, "Yet, if that should be the case, would she be less an object of compassion? of consideration?"
"What your notions may be upon such sort of heinous subjects, Mr. Harleigh," Mrs. Maple answered, with a look of high superiority, "I do not know; but as for mine, I think encouraging things of that kind, has a very immoral tendency."
Harleigh bowed, not as acquiescent in her opinion, but as declining to argue it, and was leaving the room, when Elinor, catching him by the arm, called out, "Why, Harleigh! what are you so sour for? Are you, also, angry, to see a clean face, and a clean gown? I'll make the demoiselle put on her plasters and patches again, if that will please you better."
This forced him to smile and to stay; and Elinor then ended the inquisition, by proposing that the stranger should go to Lewes in the chaise with Golding, her
