“May I speak to you as your warmest friend? From what I hear, it appears to be right that your brother should not stay. To the best of my ability I will provide for him: but I sincerely desire to disconnect you from those who are unworthy of you. Have you not promised to trust in me? Pray, let me be your guide.”
Caroline replied to the heart of his words: “I dare not.”
“What has changed you?”
“I am not changed, but awakened,” said Caroline.
The Duke paced on in silence.
“Pardon me if I comprehend nothing of such a change,” he resumed. “I asked you to sacrifice much; all that I could give in return I offered. Is it the world you fear?”
“What is the world to such as I am?”
“Can you consider it a duty to deliver yourself bound to that man again?”
“Heaven pardon me, my lord, I think of that too little!”
The Duke’s next question: “Then what can it be?” stood in his eyes.