"No, no! Don't say that—don't speak like that!"
"It's not you I am thinking of, Mrs. Hannaford. As soon as money comes in—. But tell me plainly. I have perfect confidence in what you say, indeed I have."
"It does me good to hear you say that! I can tell you all, now that I have begun. It is true, he did ask me to go away with him, again and again. But he had no right to do that—I was foolish in showing that I liked him. Again and again I forbade him ever to see me; I tried so hard to break off! It was no use. He always wrote, wherever I was, sending his letters to Dr. Derwent to be forwarded. He made me meet him at all sorts of places—using threats at last. Oh, what I have gone through!"
"No doubt," said Piers gently, "you have lent him money?"
She reddened again; her head sank.
"Yes—I have lent him money, when he was in need. Just before the death of your father."
"Once only?"
"Once—or twice——"
"To be sure. Lately, too, I daresay?"
"Yes——"