"Were you carrying on an affair with him while professing to be the friend of his wife? Tell me that! Did she find you out and—"
"Oh, Brandon, why will you persist?" she cried, her eyes aflame. "I can tell you no more. Why do you glare at me as if I were the meanest thing on earth? Is this love? Is this your idea of greatness? Isn't it enough for you to know that Sara is my loyal, devoted friend; that she—"
"Wait!" he commanded darkly. "Is it possible that she did not discover your secret until the day you left her house so abruptly? Does that explain your sudden departure?"
"I can answer that," she said quietly. "She has known everything from the day I met her. I have not said anything, Brandon, to lead you to believe that I was in love with Challis Wrandall, have I?"
His eyes softened. "No, you haven't. I—I hope you will forget what I said. You see, I knew Wrandall's reputation. He had no sense of honour. He—"
"Well, I HAVE!" she said levelly.
He flushed. "I am a beast! I'll put it in this way, then: Was he in love with you?"
"You are still unfair. I shall not answer."
He was silent for a long time. "And Sara's lips are sealed," he mused, still possessed of doubts and fears.
"Until she elects to tell the story, dearest love, my lips are also sealed. I love you better than anything else in all this world. I could willingly offer up my life for you, but—well, my life does not belong to me. It is Sara's."