my own wish, against my own
judgment,--because then I had ceased to care what became of me. I do
care now. I care very much."

"And you think that is justice to me?"

"If you will bandy accusations with me, why did you accept me when
I told you that I could not love you? But, indeed, indeed, I would
not say a word to displease you, if you would only spare me. We were
both wrong; but the wrong must now be put right. You would not wish
to take me for your wife when I tell you that my heart is full of
affection for another man. Then, when I yielded, I was struggling to
cure that as a great evil. Now I welcome it as the sweetest blessing
of my life. If I were your sister, what would you have me do?"

He stood silent for a moment, and then the colour rose to his
forehead as he answered her. "If you were my sister, my ears would
tingle with shame when your name was mentioned in my presence."

The blood rushed also over her face, suffusing her whole countenance,
forehead and all, and fire flashed from her eyes, and her lips were
parted, and even her nostrils seemed to swell with anger. She looked
full into his face for a second, and then she turned and walked
speechless away from him. When the handle of the door was in her
hand, she turned again to address him. "Mr. Gilmore," she said, "I
will never willingly speak to you again." Then the door was opened
and closed behind her before a word had escaped from his lips.

He knew that he had insulted her. He knew that he had uttered words
so hard, that it might be doubted whether, under any circumstances,
they could be justified from a gentleman to a lady. And certainly he
had not intended to insult her as he was coming down to the vicarage.
As far as any settled purpose had been formed in his mind, he had
meant to force her back to her engagement with himself, by showing to
her how manifest would be her injustice, and how great her treachery,
if she persisted in leaving him. But he knew her character well
enough to be aware that any word of insult addressed to her as a
woman, would create offence which she herself would be unable to
quell. But his anger had got the better of his judgment, and when
the suggestion was made to him of a sister of his own, he took the
opportunity which was offered to him of hitting her with all his
force. She had felt the blow, and had determined that she would never
encounter another.

He was left alone, and he must retreat. He waited a while,