“Yes, Miss Colton.”
“I am sorry you heard that. Mother—she is my mother and I love her—but she says foolish things sometimes. I am sorry you heard that, but since you did, I wish you had heard the rest.”
“The rest?”
“Yes. I answered her by suggesting that she had not been afraid to trust me in the care of Victor—Mr. Carver. She answered that she hoped I did not mean to compare Mr. Carver with you. And I said—”
“Yes? You said—?”
“I said,” the tone was low but I heard every syllable, “I said she was right, there was no comparison.”
“You said THAT!”
“Yes.”
“You said it! And you meant—?”
“I meant—I think I meant that I should not be afraid to trust you always—anywhere.”