Silence, and then the bowed figure straightened itself, and the light of battle once more came into her eyes. She would fight this out to the end.
"Tell me about it, Hector," she said steadily, "everything, please. I want the whole story, nothing kept back whatever."
Hector began, a recital very different from that arranged in his mind only a few hours before. "Lucy, when I left South Africa, three weeks ago, I could say, what very few husbands can to their wives, that I had never been unfaithful to you."
"You needn't tell me that; I know it. Go on."
"But on the ship—the—the—I can't think of the name—I met her ... and——"
"Her, who?"
"Never mind that, Lucy; it would do no good telling it ... and we—she and I got to care for each other, and—and—that's all, Lucy. Oh, for God's sake, don't let's go on now."
"Is that all, Hector? Was she—this woman—good? There was no—no wickedness, you understand me, Hector, don't you?"
"There was none."
"Thank God!" she breathed, and then a pause followed.