t there
was anything wrong in that intimacy. They shall never, at any rate, be
taught so by anything that I will do. I will admit nothing. I will do
nothing myself to show that I am ashamed. Of course you can take me
into the country; of course you can lock me up if you like; of course
you can tell all your friends that I have misbehaved myself; you can
listen to calumny against me from everybody; but if you do I will have
one friend to protect me, and I will tell papa everything." Then she
walked away to the door as though she were leaving the room.

"Stop a moment," he said. Then she stood with her hand still on the
lock, as though intending to stay merely till he should have spoken
some last word to her. He was greatly surprised by her strength and
resolution, and now hardly knew what more to say to her. He could not
beg her pardon for his suspicion; he could not tell her that she was
right; and yet he found it impossible to assert that she was wrong. "I
do not think that passion will do any good," he said.

"I do not know what will do any good. I know what I feel."

"It will do good if you will allow me to advise you."

"What is your advice?"

"To come down to the country as soon as possible, and to avoid, as far
as possible, seeing Captain De Baron before you go."

"That would be running away from Captain De Baron. I am to meet him at
Mrs. Montacute Jones' ball."

"Send an excuse to Mrs. Montacute Jones."

"You may do so, George, if you like. I will not. If I am told by you
that I am not to meet this man, of course I shall obey you; but I shall
consider myself to have been insulted,--to have been insulted by you."
As she said this his brow became very black. "Yes, by you. You ought to
defend me from these people who tell stories about me, and not accuse
me yourself. I cannot and will not live with you if you think evil of
me." Then she opened the door, and slowly left the room. He would have
said more had he known what to say. But her words came more fluently
than his, and he was dumbfounded by her volubility; yet he was as much
convinced as ever that it was his duty to save her from the ill repute
which would fall upon her from further intimacy with this Captain. He
could, of course, take her into the country to-morrow, if he chose to
do so; but he could not hinder her from writing to the Dean; he could
not debar her from pen and ink and the use of the post-office; nor
could he very well forbid her to see