Wilfrid bent his head in assent.
Mrs. Baxendale seated herself.
'My dear Wilfrid,' were her next words, 'you have been guilty of what is commonly called a dishonourable action.'
'I fear I have. I can only excuse myself by begging you to believe that no other course was open to me. I have simply cut a hard knot. It was better than wasting my own life and others' lives in despair at its hopelessness.'
Wilfrid was collected. The leap taken, he felt his foot once more on firm ground. He felt, too, that he had left behind him much of which he was heartily ashamed. He was in no mood to feign an aspect of contrition.
'You will admit,' observed the lady, 'that this Cutting of the knot makes a rather harsh severance.'
'It would be impertinent to say that I am sorry for Beatrice. Her behaviour to me has been incredibly magnanimous, and I feel sure that her happiness as well as my own has been consulted. I don't know in what sense she has spoken to you—'
'Very nobly, be sure of it.'
'I can only thank her and reverence her.'
Mrs. Baxendale remained for a moment in thought.