n.

"You really refuse to tell me?"

"I must, Beryl."

"I don't think that's fair. It isn't fair to me or to him."

"I can't help that. Please don't ask me anything more. And please
destroy that letter. Or let me destroy it."

She held out her hand, but Miss Van Tuyn sat quite still.

"I must tell you something," she said. "If you will not explain to me I
think I ought to go for an explanation to someone else."

"Someone else!" said Lady Sellingworth in a startled voice. "But--do you
know--to whom would you go?"

"I think I ought to go to him, to the man you accuse of nameless
things."

"But you can't do that!"

"Why not? It would only be fair."

"But what reason could you give?"

"Naturally I should have to say that you had warned me against him."

"No--no, you mustn't do that."

"Really? I am to be bound hand and foot while you--"

"You saw what I wrote in that letter."

"Yes, of course. Naturally I will not show it. But I shall have to say
that you warned me to drop him."

"I can't have my name mentioned to that man," said Lady Sellingworth
desperately.

"And I can't drop him without telling him why."

"Beryl, you haven't read to the end of my letter."

"But I have!"

"Then have you forgotten it? Look! I wrote in it that I don't think he
will ask for your reason if you refuse to see him again."

"That only proves how little you know about him. I shall not do it,
Adela. You are not very frank with me, but I am sincere with you. Either
you must give me an explanation of your reason for writing this letter,
or you must give me permission to tell Mr. Arabian of your warning,
or--if you won't do either the one or the other--I shall take no action
because of this letter. I shall behave as if I had never received it and
read it."

"Beryl! What reason could I have for writing as I have written if I had
nothing against this man?"

"I don't know. It is very difficult to understand the reasons women have
for doing what they do. But I have come here to ask you what your reason
is. That's why I am here now."

"Could I have a bad reason, a selfish reason?"

"How can I tell?"

"Then have you a bad opinion of me, of my character?"

"I have always admired you very much. You know that."

"Once--once you called me a book of wisdom."

"Did I?"

"Don't you remember?"

"I dare say I did."

"And I think you meant of worldly wisdom. Then can't you, won't you,
trust my opinion of this man?"

"O