"You can say what you like with regard to Florence Aylmer, but you must not mention one fact."
"What is that?"
"That I happen to know her."
"What do you mean?"
"I do not choose to say what I mean. I trust to your honour not to injure a woman quite as dependent and quite as penniless as Florence Aylmer. I have secured this place, and I wish to stay here. If you are mad, I am sane. I ask you not to mention to Mrs. Aylmer that I know Florence; otherwise, you must go your own gait."
"I will, of course, respect your confidence, but I do not understand you."
"Some day you will, and also what a great fool you are making of yourself," was Bertha's next remark.
She sailed past him out of the room and up to her own bed-room.