"They will be safe with me."
"I cannot trust you."
"Why not?"
The question rang cold and sharp, like the crack of a pistol. Kate looked at his face and realised that she had lost her ground. But, as she had said, she was tired. She was too over-wrought to choose her phrases.
"I dare not marry him and leave those letters in your hands."
"Why not? You have trusted me with more than your letters."
The brutality of the remark was emphasised by the harshness of his tone. But she replied, quietly--
"And you taunt me with my trust! Surely that is reason enough."
"You are afraid that I shall use them!"
"I don't know. I only know that if you keep them, I may be his wife, but you will be my master; and I dare not face that."