‘Nothing whatever. How could I trust his innocence? He’s the simplest creature in the world, Wilfrid.’
‘I know that well enough.’
‘I could not confess one atom of it to him. He would have blown up the whole scheme at once. It was all I could do to keep him from telling you of our engagement; and that made him miserable.’
‘Did you tell him I was in love with you? You knew I was, well enough.’
‘I dared not do that,’ she said, with a sad smile. ‘He would have vanished—would have killed himself to make way for you.’
‘I see you understand him, Clara.’
‘That will give me some feeble merit in your eyes—won’t it, Wilfrid?’
‘Still I don’t see quite why you betrayed me to Brotherton. I dare say I should if I had time to think it over.’
‘I wanted to put you in such a position with regard to the Brothertons that you could have no scruples in respect of them such as my father feared from what he called the over-refinement of your ideas of honour. The treatment you must receive would, I thought, rouse every feeling against them. But it was not all for my father’s sake, Wilfrid. It was, however mistaken, yet a good deal for the sake of Charley’s friend that I thus disgraced myself. Can you believe me?’
‘I do. But nothing can wipe out the disgrace to me.’