“Can you say you have not been harsh in all your judgments?”
“Before I knew you.”
Hugh was forgotten. He had ceased to be anything but a peg on which to hang banter, and, perhaps strangely, it was Anne who recalled him with a sigh.
“Did he—did Mr Forbes blame me so much?”
“He never blamed you.”
“Yet his friend was unmerciful.”
“What could I think? I came home to find Hugh dashed from his heights to lowest depths of wretchedness. He neither slept nor ate, but talked immoderately. From his talk I gleaned my own impressions. He was devoted to you, he was miserable—you must forgive me if I became unjust.”
Apparently she had forgotten the compassion which had made her sigh, for she repeated his words demurely—
“Talked immoderately! And your patience held out all the time?”
“I believe I can be patient.”