He rose at once, and followed her to the hall, where he looked prepared to be kind but firm.
“Must this be done to-day?” she said.
“Why not?” he answered.
“I want time to think about it. The woman has acted like a fiend, and I have not a word to say for her; but I cannot feel that it is fair, after such long and entire trust of this man, to turn on him suddenly without notice.”
“Do you mean that you will not prosecute?” said Mr. Grey, with a dozen notes of interjection in his voice.
“I have not said so. I want time to make up my mind, and to hear what he has to say for himself.”
“You will hear that at the Bench on Wednesday.”
“It will not be the same thing.”
“I should hope not!”
“You see,” said Rachel, perplexed and grievously wanting time to rally her forces, “I cannot but feel that I have trusted too easily, and perhaps been to blame myself for my implicit confidence, and after that it revolts me to throw the whole blame on another.”