But she has been told that which is untrue.  Nobody knows and nobody can know the truth as you do.  She supposes that I have willingly been passing my time with Mrs Hurtle during the last two months, although during that very time I have asked for and received the assurance of her love.  Now, whether or no I have been to blame about Mrs Hurtle,—­as to which nothing at present need be said,—­it is certainly the truth that her coming to England was not only not desired by me, but was felt by me to be the greatest possible misfortune.  But after all that had passed I certainly owed it to her not to neglect her;—­and this duty was the more incumbent on me as she was a foreigner and unknown to any one...