Page 862 - bleak-house

leap over, and dashing against ledge and cornice, strike her
life out upon the terrace below. But a moment’s observation
of her figure as she stands in the window without any sup-
port, looking out at the stars —not up-gloomily out at those
stars which are low in the heavens, reassures him. By facing
round as she has moved, he stands a little behind her.
‘Lady Dedlock, I have not yet been able to come to a de-
cision satisfactory to myself on the course before me. I am
not clear what to do or how to act next. I must request you,
in the meantime, to keep your secret as you have kept it so
long and not to wonder that I keep it too.’
He pauses, but she makes no reply.
‘Pardon me, Lady Dedlock. This is an important subject.
You are honouring me with your attention?’
‘I am.’
‘‘Thank you. I might have known it from what I have seen
of your strength of character. I ought not to have asked the
question, but I have the habit of making sure of my ground,
step by step, as I go on. The sole consideration in this un-
happy case is Sir Leicester.’
‘‘Then why,’ she asks in a low voice and without remov-
ing her gloomy look from those distant stars, ‘do you detain
me in his house?’
‘Because he IS the consideration. Lady Dedlock, I have
no occasion to tell you that Sir Leicester is a very proud
man, that his reliance upon you is implicit, that the fall of
that moon out of the sky would not amaze him more than
your fall from your high position as his wife.’
She breathes quickly and heavily, but she stands as

862 Bleak House