"I mean that there is nothing for it but to take things in that way," he said gravely, after slight hesitation. "I could not have thought it quite possible of you; but—"
"But you will not feel differently about me. You will trust—still. Say you will forget—you will trust me still."
"That must depend. I will not speak of it. One can hardly promise to forget. It is not feeling angry; don't misunderstand. But this sort of thing gives rather a shake to one's confidence. How am I to know in the future—?"
"Nigel! Think what a lesson to me it has been!"
"Yes, I hope so."
"But—" She sobbed aloud, with the longing for something more. "Oh, say one kind word!"
"I think you are hardly reasonable," he said seriously. "It is not a question of forgiveness at all. What I mind is not the thing itself, but that you could do such a thing. That is what I could not have believed. I have always felt, whatever else might be wanting, that was not wanting. I could trust you, absolutely. And now—"
Fulvia could not speak.
Both were silent for a minute or two.
"We need never allude to this again," he said at length; and he went away, leaving her alone.