“I can’t tell you,” she said quickly, “while you look like that. I daren’t.”
He patted her shoulder kindly.
“Nonsense,” he said. “You can trust me to be just.”
“I don’t ask you to be just, I want you to be merciful. I want you to promise that you will accept this act of restitution without any questions, and that you will be satisfied not to speak of the matter again. The thief has repented, as you see, and has proved repentance.”
“I must know who it is,” said Sir Robert, with more sternness than he had ever used to his wife before.
“Yes, if you will promise to forgive and—forget.”
“I promise,” said Sir Robert after a pause.
He was looking pale and anxious in his turn, as he sat down, after placing a chair for his wife, and folding his hands, kept his head bent, as he waited for her promised revelation.
“What would you say if you were to learn that it was a lady in your employment, one who has proved herself very useful, very devoted, who yielded to a temptation she couldn’t resist?” said she.
Sir Robert looked up sharply.