She crept a little closer to him.
"You are not sheltering Flossy from punishment?"
It was what he had been doing for the past eight years.
"Good heavens, Enid," he cried, losing his self-possession a little for the first time, "what on earth can you possibly mean?"
She thought that he was indignant, and she hastened tremblingly to appease his apparent wrath.
"I don't mean to accuse you or her," she said; "I have said a great deal too much. I can trust you, Hubert—oh, I am sure I can! Forgive me for the moment's doubt."
"If you have not accused me, you have accused my sister. I must know what you mean."
"Forgive me, cousin Hubert! I can't tell you—even you."
"But, my dear Enid, if you said so much, you must say more."
"I will never say anything again!" she said, her face quivering all over like that of a troubled child.