But Alec Trenholme, like many people, could not see a fine point in the heat of discussion. Afterwards, on reflection he saw what she had meant, but now he only acted in the most unreasonable of ways.
"Well, I don't see it as you do," he said; and then, the picture of suppressed indignation, he took up the pail to go inside and dispose of it.
"I don't know how it can all be," said Sophia considering, "but I'm sure there's a great deal of good in her."
At this, further silence, even out of deference to her, seemed to him inadequate. "I don't pretend to know how it can be; how she got here, or what she has been doing here, dressed in silk finery, or what she may have been masquerading with matches in the old house over there for. All I know is, a girl who treated Bates as she did—"
"No, you don't know any of these things. You have only heard one side of the story. It is not fair to judge."
"She has ruined his life, done as good as killed him. Why should you take her part?"
"Because there are always two sides to everything. I don't know much of her story, but I have heard some of it, and it didn't sound like what you have said. As to her being in the Harmon house—" Sophia stopped.
"Do you mean to say," asked Alec, "that she has been living here all the time quite openly?"
"Yes—that is, she has given a false name, it seems, but, Mr.
Trenholme—"
"If she has lied about her name, depend upon it she has lied about everything else. I wouldn't want you to go within ten feet of her."