"And Anne?"
"Oh, well, Anne isn't going to give herself away. But I'm certain… Would she stick down there, with everybody watching them and thinking things and talking, if she didn't care so much that nothing matters?"
"But would she—would she—"
The best of his mother was that in these matters her mind jumped to meet yours halfway. You hadn't got to put things into words.
"My dear, if you think she wouldn't, supposing she cared enough, you don't know Anne."
"I shall go down," he said, "and see her."
"If you do, for goodness' sake be careful. Even supposing there's nothing in it, you mustn't let Colin see you think there is. He'd feel then that he ought to leave her for fear of compromising her. And if he leaves her he'll be as bad as ever again. And I can't manage him. Nobody can manage him but Anne. That's how they've tied our hands. We can't say anything."
"I see."
"After all, Jerrold, it's very simple. If they're innocent we must leave them in their innocence. And if they're not——"
"If they're not?"