“To-day!” Lady Cecilia almost screamed.
“I will tell you why,” said Helen.
“To-day!” repeated Lady Cecilia.
“If we let the present now pass,” continued Helen, “we shall lose both the power and the opportunity, believe me.”
“I have not the power, Helen, and I do not know what you mean by the opportunity,” said Cecilia.
“We have a reason now to give General Clarendon—a true good reason, for what we have done.”
“Reason!” cried Lady Cecilia, “what can you mean?”
“That it was to prevent danger to your mother, and now she is safe; and if you tell him directly, he will see this was, really so.”
“That is true; but I cannot—wait till to-morrow, at least.”
“Every day will make it more difficult. The deception will be greater, and less pardonable. If we delay, it will become deliberate falsehood, a sort of conspiracy between us,” said Helen.