"I have, of course, no right to interfere," I said. "But I think you are in trouble; and I would gladly help you if I could. Will you not sit down with me, for five minutes?"
"No! Why should I? If I am in trouble, it is your doing," she broke out passionately.
"You are mistaken. It is not my doing," I said; and after a moment's thought I laid one hand on her arm, adding, "Sit down."
She yielded sullenly, and I placed myself beside her.
"One word of explanation first," I said, speaking gently. "I should like you to understand that I had not, practically, to do with your going. Mrs. Romilly appealed to me for a confidential opinion, and I declined to give any. There were things which she had heard, and which she disapproved: but she did not hear them from me."
Miss Millington shook her head, in evident disbelief.
"There was much that tried and grieved me," I said in a lower voice. "No need to go into particulars. You know well enough to what I allude. I would have been a friend to you, if you had allowed it."
She gave me a strange look; then said, "Thanks!" very scornfully.
"And you are in trouble now?" I said once more.
"That is my business; not yours," came in sharp answer.