’Sell yourself for money! why, if I were a man I would not sell one jot of liberty for mountains of gold.  What! tie myself in the heyday of my youth to a person I could never love, for a price! perjure myself, destroy myself—­and not only myself, but her also, in order that I might live idly!  Oh, heavens!  Mr Gresham! can it be that the words of such a woman as your aunt have sunk so deeply in your heart; have blackened you so foully as this?  Have you forgotten your soul, your spirit, your man’s energy, the treasure of your heart?  And you, so young!  For shame, Mr Gresham! for shame—­for shame.’

Frank found the task before him by no means an easy one.  He had to make Miss Dunstable understand that he had never had the slightest idea of marrying her, and that he had made love to her merely with the object of keeping his hand in for the work as it were; with that object, and the other equally laudable one of interfering with his cousin George.

And yet there was nothing for him but to get through this task as best he might.  He was goaded to it by the accusations which Miss Dunstable brought against him; and he began to feel, that though her invective against him might be bitter when he had told the truth, they could not be so bitter as those she now kept hinting at under her mistaken impression as to his views.  He had never had any strong propensity for money-hunting; but now that offence appeared in his eyes abominable, unmanly, and disgusting.  Any imputation would be better than that.

’Miss Dunstable, I never for a moment thought of doing what you accuse me of; on my honour, I never did.  I have been very foolish—­very wrong—­idiotic, I believe; but I have never intended that.’

‘Then, Mr Gresham, what did you intend?’

This was rather a difficult question to answer; and Frank was not very quick in attempting it.  ‘I know you will not forgive me,’ he said at last; ’and, indeed, I do not see how you can.  I don’t know how it came about; but this is certain, Miss Dunstable; I have never for a moment thought about your fortune; that is, thought about it in the way of coveting it.’

‘You never thought of making me your wife, then?’

‘Never,’ said Frank, looking boldly into her face.

’You never intended really to propose to go with me to the altar, and then make yourself rich by one great perjury?’

‘Never for a moment,’ said he.

’You have never gloated over me as the bird of prey gloats over the poor beast that is soon to become carrion beneath its claws?  You have not counted me out as equal to so much land, and calculated on me as a balance at your banker’s?  Ah, Mr Gresham,’ she continued, seeing that he stared as though struck almost with awe by her strong language; ’you little guess what a woman situated as I am has to suffer.’

’I have behaved badly to you, Miss Dunstable, and I beg your pardon; but I have never thought of your money.’