Yes, she was stern; she could be almost hard. At least, I tried to think so, trying still to defend Walter in my heart.
"But he didn't mean—" I murmured.
"Didn't mean to rob you! My dear, he meant to get a certain amount of money somehow; he cared very little how. What you might lose or suffer was quite a small matter. Kitty,—if I could open your eyes to understand him!"
I had a sort of side-peep of mother putting her head round the door, and going away again. It flurried me so, I didn't know what to say. And I was angry with Mary too. Why must she make the very worst of everything to do with Walter?
"He meant to bring it back to me," I said.
"To bring back the watch! After he had sold it!"
"Perhaps he didn't really quite sell it," I whispered.
"He sold it, quite and really," says she. "How could he sell it only half? You are fighting against truth, trying to believe in him still," says she. "Will anything persuade you, short of coming to the jeweller's with me?"
I said "O no!" to that.
"No, you don't want to go—is that it? Then will you take my word? He sold the watch and chain for more money than he was in need of, and spent a lot in useless nothings. That is Walter all over! Do you think I don't know him now, after all these years?"