Dora's heart almost stood still. Although, with the precocity of the Latin races, s*x matters were freely discussed among the convent girls, and passion and illicit love were the most favoured themes of their whispered conversations, the idea had never for one moment come to her that anything of an unlawful nature would ever touch her or anyone to do with her. Now—the very suggestion that perhaps it might have already done so burst like a thunderclap into her mind.
It might be, oh yes, it surely might be, for had not her mother, as far back as she could remember, always brought her up as if her father were some sort of stranger to her? Had she not all along let her have as little as possible to do with him, and spoken of him to her, the few times she did mention him, in a cold and unsmili
