The words fell upon her heart like a crushing weight. But she could not
yield. Last night she had suffered in his opinion by urging what he
thought a weak, womanly scruple; she had condescended to plead tenderly
with him, and had won her cause. Now she would prevail in another way.
If he were telling the truth, he should acknowledge that natural
suspicion made it incumbent upon him to clear so strange a case of its
difficulties. If he were guilty of deception, as she still believed,
though willing to admit to herself that Monica might be most at fault,
that there might have been no actual wrongdoing between them--he should
confess with humblest penitence, and beseech pardon. Impossible to take
any other attitude. Impossible to marry him with this doubt in her
mind--equally out of the question to seek Monica, and humiliate herself
by making inquiries on such a subject. Guilty or not, Monica would
regard her with secret disdain, with woman's malice. Were she _able_ to
believe him, that indeed would be a grand consummation of their love,
an ideal union of heart and soul. Listening to him, she had tried to
put faith in his indignant words. But it was useless. The incredulity
she could not help must either part them for ever, or be to her an
occasion of new triumph.

'I don't refuse to take your word,' she said, with conscious quibbling.
'I only say that your name must be cleared from suspicion. Mr.
Widdowson is sure to tell his story to other people. Why has his wife
left him?'

'I neither know nor care.'

'You must prove to me that you are not the cause of it.'

'I shall not make the slightest effort to do so.'

Rhoda began to move away from him. As he kept silence, she walked on in
the Seascale direction. He followed at a distance of a few yards,
watching her movements. When they had gone so far that five minutes
more must bring them within sight of the hotel, Everard spoke.

'Rhoda!'

She paused and awaited him.

'You remember that I was going to London to-morrow. It seems that I had
better go and not trouble to return.'

'That is for you to decide.'

'For you rather.'

'I have said all that I _can_ say.'

'And so have I. But surely you must be unconscious how grossly you are
insulting me.'

'I want only to understand what purpose Mrs. Widdowson had in going to
your rooms.'

'Then why not ask her? You are friends. She would doubtless tell you
the truth.'

'If she comes to me voluntarily to make an