‘No. You preferred the man who had the property.’
It was a speech both cruel and rude. She stepped a pace back, and looked me proudly in the face.
Prefer that man to you, Wilfrid! No. I could never have fallen so low as that. But I confess I didn’t mind letting papa understand that Mr Brotherton was polite to me—just to keep him from urging me to—to—You will do me the justice that I did not try to make you—to make you—care for me, Wilfrid?’
‘I admit it heartily. I will be as honest as you, and confess that you might have done so—easily enough at one time. Indeed I am only half honest after all: I loved you once—after a boyish fashion.’
She half smiled again. ‘I am glad you are believing me now,’ she said.
‘Thoroughly,’ I answered. ‘When you speak the truth, I must believe you.’
‘I was afraid to let papa know the real state of things. I was always afraid of him, though I love him dearly, and he is very good to me. I dared not disappoint him by telling him that I loved Charley Osborne. That time—you remember—when we met in Switzerland, his strange ways interested me so much! I was only a girl—but—’
‘I understand well enough. I don’t wonder at any woman falling in love with my Charley.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, with a sigh which seemed to come from the bottom of her heart. ‘You were always generous. You will do what you can to right me with Charley—won’t you? He is very strange sometimes.’
‘I will indeed. But, Clara, why didn’t Charley let me know that you and he loved each other?’