His eyes met mine, frankly, without a flicker of shame.
“Did she? That was wrong of her. She had no business to repeat—”
“You acknowledge it, then! You did say so?”
“I did. Oh, yes. It’s quite true.”
It was a shock. At that moment I realised that, in my vanity, I had never really believed Delphine’s statement. The Squire had made some casual remark which she had misunderstood, misquoted—such had been the subconscious explanation with which I had assuaged my complacency; but now out of his own lips, openly, unhesitatingly, the verdict was confirmed! I felt as if a pail of water had been emptied over my head.
“And you—you really meant—”
“If I had not meant it, I should hardly have said—”
“I can’t think why! What had I done? If it was that affair of the lease—”
“It was not. I was amazed at the time, but I got over that. It was just—”
“What?”