d."

"Forgive me, Adela, for being brutally frank with you. But I don't think
you care very much for me."

"I wrote that letter against my own desire simply because I thought I
ought to. I wrote it simply for your sake. I would have given a great
deal not to write it. I knew that there was even danger in writing it."

"What danger?"

"It was possible that you might disregard my request and show my letter.
I felt practically certain you wouldn't, but you might have done so."

"And if I had?"

"If you had--then--but I only tell you this to prove that in this
instance I was trying to be a friend to you."

"If I had shown this letter, or if I were to show it to Mr. Arabian he
might bring an action for libel on it, I should think."

"I dare say he could do that."

"Well--but if you could justify!"

"But I couldn't!"

"You couldn't! You write me a libel about a friend of mine which you
yourself say you couldn't justify!"

"I can't bear to hear you speak of that man as your friend."

"He is my friend. I like him very much indeed. And I know him, have
known him for weeks, while you tell me you don't know him. I shall
venture to set my knowledge, my personal knowledge, against your
ignorance, Adela, and to go on with my friendship. But you need not be
afraid." She smiled contemptuously. "I will not show Mr. Arabian this
cruel letter which you yourself say you couldn't justify."

As she spoke she returned the letter to her muff, which was lying on a
table beside her.

"Well," she added, "I don't know that there is anything more I need say.
I came here to have it out with you. That is my way, perhaps an American
way, of doing things. We don't care for underhand dealings. We like
things fair and square."

She got up.

"You have your way of doing things and we have ours! I'll tell you
what mine would have been, Adela, if the situation had been reversed. I
should not have written at all. I should have come to see you, and if
I had had some grave, hideous charge to make I should have made it, and
fully explained my reasons for making it to you. I should have put you
in the same state of complete knowledge as I was in. That is my idea
of friendship and fair dealing. But you think otherwise. So what is the
good of our arguing any more about the matter?"

Lady Sellingworth was still sitting. For a moment she did not move,
but remained where she was looking up at the girl. Just then she was
assailed by a fierce tem