"One-and-twenty, ah!" repeated Gay. She had not chosen her life, but she was foggy on whether or not it was right to deny others the right to join her in her suffering. What can she be? The wife of a country tradesman, or a duchess? And such a meek little husband too. He made his speech a little elaborately. And in this fact lay his danger. If it hadn’t been for Professor Russell standing up for him, they say he would have had to leave. She received into her slack grasp the pistol and dagger, only half aware of taking them.