He knew what she meant about trumpeters.  She had intended to signify that Isabel in her pride had boasted of her matrimonial prospects.  Of course there had been trumpets.  Are there not always trumpets when a marriage is contemplated, magnificent enough to be called an alliance?  As for that he himself had blown the trumpets.  He had told everybody that he was going to be married to Miss Boncassen.  Isabel had blown no trumpets.  In her own straightforward way she had told the truth to whom it concerned.  Of course he would go and see Lady Mabel, but he trusted that for her own sake nothing would be said about trumpets.

‘So you have come at last,’ Mabel said when he entered the room.  ’No;—­Miss Cassewary is not here.  As I wanted to see you alone I got her to go out this morning.  Why did you not come before?’

‘You said in your letter you knew why.’

‘But in saying so I was accusing you of cowardice;—­was I not?’

‘It was not cowardice.’

‘Why then did you not come?’

’I thought you would hardly wish to see me so soon,—­after what passed.’

’That is honest at any rate.  You felt that I must be too much ashamed of what I said to be able to look you in the face.’

‘Not that exactly.’

’Any other man would have felt the same, but no other man would be honest enough to tell me so.  I do not think that ever in your life you have constrained yourself to the civility of a lie.’

‘I hope not.’

’To be civil and false is often better than to be harsh and true. 
 I may be soothed by the courtesy and yet not deceived by the lie. 
But what I told you in my letter,—­which I hope you have destroyed—­’

‘I will destroy it.’

’Do.  It was not intended for the partner of your future joys.  As I told you then I can talk freely.  Why not?  We know it,—­both of us.  How your conscience may be I cannot tell; but mine is clear from that soil with which you think it should be smirched.’

‘I think nothing of the sort.’

’Yes, Silverbridge, you do.  You have said to yourself this;—­That girl has determined to get me, and she has not stopped as to how she would do it.’

‘No such idea ever crossed my mind.’

’But you have never told yourself of the engagement which you gave me.  Such condemnation as I have spoken of would have been just if my efforts had been sanctioned by no words, no looks, no deeds from you.  Did you give me warrant for thinking that you were my lover?’

That theory by which he had justified himself to himself seemed to fall away from him under her questioning.  He could not now remember his words to her in those old days before Miss Boncassen had crossed his path; but he did know that he had once intended to make her understand that he loved her.  She had not understood him;—­or understanding, had not accepted his words; and therefore he had thought himself free.  But it now seemed that he had not been entitled so to regard himself.  There she sat, looking at him, waiting for his answer; and he who had been so sure that he had committed no sin against her, had not a word to say to her.