"More than—my—my words?"
"Yes; I heard your heart's secret."
Claire's face drooped. "What do you mean?" she asked, deprecatingly.
"My darling, I mean that your heart spoke through your voice, and it belied your words. Why did you deny your love for so noble a man?"
Claire raised her head. "I didn't!" she said, suddenly, as if driven to bay.
"No," smiled Mrs. Ralston. "You were a wily little serpent. But you deceived him."
"I don't care," doggedly.
"Now you are telling a fib!"
"Well, I am not sorry, then," getting hold of her monitor's hand. "Why do you turn against poor me, when I am trying to do my duty?"
"Because you are not doing your duty."