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immediate bearing for him on his relation to Dorothea and
to Mr. Casaubon’s treatment of him. And in the rush of im-
pulses by which he flung back that offer of Bulstrode’s there
was mingled the sense that it would have been impossible
for him ever to tell Dorothea that he had accepted it.
As for Bulstrode—when Will was gone he suffered a vio-
lent reaction, and wept like a woman. It was the first time
he had encountered an open expression of scorn from any
man higher than Raffles; and with that scorn hurrying like
venom through his system, there was no sensibility left to
consolations. Rut the relief of weeping had to be checked.
His wife and daughters soon came home from hearing the
address of an Oriental missionary, and were full of regret
that papa had not heard, in the first instance, the interesting
things which they tried to repeat to him.
Perhaps, through all other hidden thoughts, the one that
breathed most comfort was, that Will Ladislaw at least was
not likely to publish what had taken place that evening.