‘Ask himself, Hetta.’

’And you will tell me nothing?  You will not try to save me though you know that I am in danger?  Who is—­Mrs Hurtle?’

‘Have you asked him?’

’I had not heard her name when he parted from me.  I did not even know that such a woman lived.  Is it true that he has promised to marry her?  Felix told me of her, and told me also that you knew.  But I cannot trust Felix as I would trust you.  And mamma says that it is so;—­but mamma also bids me ask you.  There is such a woman?’

‘There is such a woman certainly.’

‘And she has been,—­a friend of Paul’s?’

’Whatever...