'I know you had a note. What does she say?'
'She tells me that he—he has come back.'
'And what else? She was well aware that we knew that without her telling us.'
'She wants to come here.'
'Bid her come.'
'Of course she shall come.'
'And him.' To this she made no answer, except with the muscles of her face, which involuntarily showed her antagonism to the order she had received. 'Bid her bring her husband with her,' said the banker.
'He would not come,—though I were to ask him.'
'Then let it be on his own head.'
'I will not ask him,' she said at last, looking away across the room at the blank wall. 'I will not belie my own heart. I do not want to see him here. He has so far got the better of me; but I will not put my neck beneath his feet for him to tread on me.'