‘What was Eldon doing about here to-day?’ he asked after a pause.

‘I have told you that I did not even know he had been near.’

’Perhaps not.  Now, will you just tell me this:  Have you written to Eldon, or had any letter from him since our marriage?’

Her fingers would not continue their work.  A deadening sensation of disgust made her close her eyes as if to shut out the meaning of his question.  Her silence revived his distrust.

‘You had rather not answer?’ he said significantly.

’Cannot you see that it degrades me to answer such a question?  What is your opinion of me?  Have I behaved so as to lead you to think that I am an abandoned woman?’

After hesitating he muttered:  ‘You don’t give a plain yes or no.’

’You must not expect it.  If you think I use arts to deceive you—­if you have no faith whatever in my purity—­it was your duty to let me go from you when I would have done so.  It is horrible for us to live together from the moment that there is such a doubt on either side.  It makes me something lower than your servant—­something that has no name!’

She shuddered.  Had not that been true of her from the very morrow of their marriage?  Her life was cast away upon shoals of debasement; no sanctity of womanhood remained in her.  Was not her indignation half a mockery?  She could not even defend her honesty, her honour in the vulgarest sense of the word, without involving herself in a kind of falsehood, which was desolation to her spirit.  It had begun in her advocacy of uprightness after her discovery of the will; it was imbuing her whole nature, making her to her own conscience that which he had called her—­a very hypocrite.

He spoke more conciliatingly.

’Well, there’s one thing, at all events, that you can’t refuse to explain.  Why didn’t you tell me that you had met Eldon, and what he meant to do?’

She had not prepared herself for the question, and it went to the root of her thoughts; none the less she replied instantly, careless how he understood the truth.

’I kept silence because the meeting had given me pain, because it distressed me to have to speak with Mr. Eldon at that place and at that time, because I knew how you regard him, and was afraid to mention him to you.’

Mutimer was at a loss.  If Adela had calculated her reply with the deepest art she could not have chosen words better fitted to silence him.

‘And you have told me every word that passed between you?’ he asked.

’That would be impossible.  I have told you the substance of the conversation.’

‘Why did you ask him to keep the works going on my plan?’

‘I can tell you no more.’

Her strength was spent.  She put aside her sewing and moved towards the door.

‘Where are you going?’

‘I don’t feel well.  I must rest.’

‘Just stop a minute.  I’ve something here I want td show you.’