"Well, they certainly wouldn't have used such words in my presence."
"But they meant that—or something like it?"
"I'm afraid they did."
Her face, white enough before, flushed red, as she demanded:
"And you! What did you say?"
"I—I don't remember— I refused to listen; but I made up my mind to speak to you— I thought you ought to know."
"You"—she cried, turning on him in a fury—"you, my friend, as you call yourself, had no answer to make, did nothing, except to decide to lecture me about what you should have known to be a lie! Let me tell you, Mr. Stanley, you'd have done better to defend me—knowing, as you must know, the slights, the buffets, the insults I've had to endure, because I'm unprotected, and men can dare——"
"I assure you I did. I didn't believe it of you for an instant."
"You believed it enough to question me as to the truth of these accusations. It's easy to preach prudence when you've nothing to gain or lose; but were you a woman, thrown on the world and on her own resources, you'd find it a different, a very different, thing, and you'd expect help and encouragement from friends who are stronger and more fortunate than you—not this!" and she burst into tears.
"Miss Fitzgerald!— Belle!" he cried, striving to take her hand, "I wouldn't have pained you in this way for worlds! Believe me, I'm your friend, your true friend!"