The lawyer felt annoyed, as well as very much taken aback. For one thing, he could not tell by her manner whether she wished his answer to be “yes” or “no.” So he answered her evasively:
“I know that Mr. Garlett strongly wishes the engagement to be broken off, Miss Bower. He spoke very frankly to me this morning, and he said he hoped with all his heart that you would do as he wished.”
“I realize all that,” she answered, with what was for her a curious and most unusual touch of irritation in her voice. “But I am not thinking of what he wishes me to do. What I want you to tell me is what will be best for him.”
And then suddenly she saw into Mr. Toogood’s mind.
“Surely,” she exclaimed, “you don’t think that I wish to break our engagement?”
With a pitiful little smile she added slowly: “To do that would break my heart, but I will, if you tell me that’s it’s honestly the best thing for Harry.”
He was so touched, so surprised at her words, that he felt he would like to take her in his arms and hug her.
What a splendid girl she was, and that even if she had allowed her employer, the husband of poor ailing Emily Garlett, to make love to her in his wife’s lifetime! She deserved to know the truth—the real truth.
“About that,” he said decidedly, “I can set your mind at rest. Though I should not like to be quoted as having said it, I haven’t a doubt that, in as far as public opinion plays any part in a great law case, the fact that you have remained faithful to Mr. Garlett can do him nothing but good.”
Jean sighed convulsively, and tears of relief began running down her face.