She knew what was coming and her color deepened. Again Rose had stepped between them, and Electra felt herself back in their old atmosphere of constraint.
"I have inherited it from Tom," she rejoined.
"You ignore his wife?"
Electra was silent for a long time. It was a hard struggle. But she spoke at last and in a tone which made the difficulty of speech apparent.
"Since Mr. MacLeod has been here—"
"Well?"
"I must recognize her as his daughter."
"Didn't you believe that, Electra? Not even that?"
"I am forced to believe it now. When he comes back, I shall ask him to corroborate her story. If he does—I shall be obliged to—give her what is just."
"Not otherwise, Electra? You believe him."