Rachel, who had rather dreaded this moment, was astonished to find herself so tranquil. In the last few days she had become certain that Astry did not believe Eva's monstrous charge against her; what he really believed she found it impossible to imagine. That he could know his wife's folly and her cowardly makeshift to save herself, and yet force this terrible alternative upon her sister, Rachel herself did not believe. That he had probably thought Eva guilty of the worst was not unnatural, for the evidence, barring Eva's story about her sister, was overwhelmingly against her. Tortured between contending emotions, Rachel did not attempt to fathom her brother-in-law's conclusions; she had even ceased to consider his actions. She was wholly absorbed in the contemplation of the fast approaching event; her marriage to Belhaven had become a terror that walked by night and dwelt with her by day. She stood looking out into the sunshine and counting the hours that were left to her.
Astry's voice startled her.
"Marriage is a serious step, my dear Rachel," he said calmly, "a step that needs meditation; like hanging, it's usually fatal."
Rachel met his eyes. "I'd be glad of more time," she said quickly.
He shook his head, smiling slightly, though his eyes did not smile. "I have Belhaven to think of; I really couldn't stand him a day over Thursday."
Rachel made a little impatient gesture as if she had meant to speak and suddenly withdrawn into herself. His words seemed to imply a doubt of Eva that Rachel could not refute, and she was filled with dismay at her own helplessness. She could not defend her sister without impugning herself, she could not defend herself without traducing her sister. Eva's lie had been double-edged and, like all lies, it required a hundred falsehoods to hedge it in. She was silent.
Astry began to walk to and fro across the hall, his hands in his pockets, his head bent. At last, just as Rachel turned to go, he spoke again.
"Rachel, you don't want to marry this man," he looked keenly at her, "if it isn't true,—if—I'll take your word for it—if it's not compromising you, I want to know it."
The full significance of his words forcing itself upon Rachel, she flushed darkly. "You don't think I'm like—that!" she cried involuntarily.
He stood still and she felt his eyes on her.