swer I gave.'

He detected the beginning of a smile about her rigid lips.

'I remember,' she said.

'And you can still behave to me with indignation? Surely the
indignation should be on my side. You are telling me that I deceived
you.'

For a moment Rhoda lost her self-control.

'How can I help thinking so?' she exclaimed, with a gesture of misery.
'What can this letter mean? Why should she go to your rooms?'

'I simply don't know, Rhoda.'

He preserved the show of calmness just because he saw that it provoked
her to anger.

'She has never been there before?'

'Never to my knowledge.'

Rhoda watched his face with greedy attention. She seemed to find there
a confirmation of her doubts. Indeed, it was impossible for her to
credit his denials after what she had observed in London, and the
circumstances which, even before Mary's letter, had made her suspicious.

'When did you last see Mrs. Widdowson?'

'No, I shan't consent to be cross-examined,' replied Everard, with a
disdainful smile. 'As soon as you refuse to accept my word it's folly
to ask further questions. You don't believe me. Say it honestly and let
us understand each other.'

'I have good reason for thinking that you could explain Mrs.
Widdowson's behaviour if you chose.'

'Exactly. There's no misunderstanding _that_. And if I get angry I am
an unpardonable brute. Come now, you can't be offended if I treat you
as simply my equal, Rhoda. Let me test your sincerity. Suppose I had
seen you talking somewhere with some man who seemed to interest you
very much, and then--to-day, let us say--I heard that he had called
upon you when you were alone. I turn with a savage face and accuse you
of grossly deceiving me--in the worst sense. What would your answer be?'

'These are idle suppositions,' she exclaimed scornfully.

'But the case is possible, you must admit. I want you to realize what I
am feeling. In such a case as that, you could only turn from me with
contempt. How else can I behave to _you_--conscious of my innocence,
yet in the nature of things unable to prove it?'

'Appearances are very strongly against you.'

'That's an accident--to me quite unaccountable. If I charged you with
dishonour you would only have your word to offer in reply. So it is
with me. And my word is bluntly rejected. You try me rather severely.'

Rhoda kept silence.

'I know what you are thinking. My character was previously none of the
best. There is a prejudice agai