"If you loved some one else you could have told me. That, surely, was due me."
"To whom do you think my unfortunate words apply?"
It suddenly occurred to her that it might be possible for Ralph to assume that a third person was involved. She was glad that Ralph should be in ignorance of his real condition, for she now began to think he was; yet she certainly could not do herself the injustice of letting Ralph think she had voluntarily deceived him to the extent of permitting him to believe there was another in whom she was interested.
The previous evening Adelina had acknowledged to Ralph, in response to his eager inquiry, the fallacy of what she was pleased to term his absurd beliefs in her power to attract others—not that he believed it, but he had been led to believe that she did not love any one else. It began to dawn on Adelina that Ralph might not have applied the words to himself at all. Here was a dilemma. She could not let Ralph impute such a deception to her. A thought flashed across her mind—why not let Dr. Ellis impart the whole sad story to Ralph? She felt that it was cowardly in her, and yet she realized her own impotence to assume the task. A more potent cause towards disinclination for the undertaking was her complete ignorance of the effect of such a disclosure to Ralph. Poor, bewildered fellow. It seemed to him that everyone had changed. Adelina's eyes filled with tears. She averted her face, not too soon, however, for Ralph to note their existence.
"Forgive me," he said brokenly and humbly; "but this means so much to me."
"Here is Dr. Ellis now. Ask him to tell you all."
"Dr. Ellis? What can he know of our affairs?"
"Nevertheless, Ralph, do as I say. If he refuses to tell you, then I must also. I leave you with him."
Giving a few hasty words of explanation to the doctor, she hastened away.