"You have not believed these things?"
"I have denied them as far as I could. I should have denied that anything had occurred; but you remember I could not do that after what you told me. You said something had occurred."
"Yes, I know," she said. "But you now have my authority at least to say that these things are not true. What I planned for the best has been misused and turned against him and against me. Have you seen him?"
"He has been in town, but I have not seen him."
"Then you must see him at once. Tell me one thing: have you heard it said that I am responsible for the circulation of these stories?"
"Yes."
"Do you suppose he has heard that? And could he believe it? Yet might he not believe it? But how could he, how could he!"
"You must come here and stay with us. Anna will want you." He could not tell her his reason for understanding that she would not wish to stay at home.
"No, I should like to come; but it is better for me to stay at home. But I wish Rowan to come to see me here. Judge Morris—has he done nothing?"
"He does not know. No one has told him."