"I have no wish to force your confidence——" he said, with a note of inquiry in his voice.
"I haven't my certificate."
"You can refer to the Matron."
"I know I can; I will not. I told you two years ago there were persons I could refer to, but I wouldn't do it."
"May I ask why you should have any objection to referring to this one?"
She was silent.
"Won't you tell me?"
"I think you might understand," she said in a very low voice. "I went there after my father's death. I am not the woman who left the Yaughton Hospital."
His eyes fell, and he stared abstractedly at the grate. When he raised them he saw that hers had closed. He looked at her lingeringly till they opened.
"Now that she is gone," he exclaimed unsteadily, "your position is not so easy! Have you any prospect that you don't mention?"