"But the idea of such a miserable apology for a man getting a divorce from a sister of _mine_," said John, striding impatiently across the room. "Why did you not anticipate him, Gertrude? and with right on your side, too."
"Had I been pecuniarily able to do so," replied Gertrude, "I had not the slightest _wish_ to oppose a divorce, especially as I knew it could be obtained on no grounds that would compromise me. For months after Stahle left me, and, indeed, before, he and his spies had been on my track. Had there been a shadow of a charge they could have preferred against my good name, _then_ would have been their hour of triumph! I have a copy of the divorce papers in my possession, and the only allegation there preferred is, that I did not accept Stahle's invitation to join him when he wrote me, in the manner I have related to you."
"But the world, Gertrude, the world," said the irritated John, "will not understand this."
"My dear John," said Gertrude, "they who _desire_ to believe a lie, will do so in the face of the clearest evidence to the contrary. But I have found out that though a person (a woman especially) may suffer much from the bitter persecution of such persons, from the general undeserved suspicion of wrong, and from the pusillanimity of those who _should_ be her defenders, yet even in such a position, a woman can never be injured _essentially_, save by her own acts, for God is just, and truth and innocence will triumph. I am righted before the world; my untiring industry and uprightness of life are the refutal of his calumnies. Leave him to his kennel obscurity, my dear John. I do not _now_ need the blow that I am sure you would not have been slow to strike for me had you known how your sister was oppressed."
"I don't know but you are right, Gertrude, and yet--if he ever should cross my path, my opinion might undergo a sudden revulsion. Does he still keep up the show of piety?"
"So I have heard," said Gertrude. "The first thing he does, when he goes into a new place is to connect himself with some church. What a pity, John, such men should bring religion into disrepute."
"You think so, do you? And yet you refuse to expose it. It is just because of this that so many hypocrites go unmasked. Sift them out, I say--if there is not a communicant left in the church. I do not believe in throwing a wide mantle over such whited sepulchers."