CHAPTER IX.
Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong—you must feel that now."
"I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either. This is a new tone for you to take with me."
"It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done. Grace can never forgive what you said—never."
"Why not?"
"Was there any truth in it? Did you really speak to Mr. Drayton about her?"
Mr. Sandford sat looking straight before him. He could not quite remember at first how it had been. Had Mr. Drayton spoken first, or had he mentioned Grace to him in the first instance? Then he remembered, "Drayton spoke of Margaret. He said something about her admiringly. I did not want him to have any notion of Margaret—I did not know how far it might go. I wished him to like Grace, and I did say something. Yes, that is true. He would not see it, and I am not surprised; but, at any rate, he led up to it, he spoke first."
"Then it is not quite so bad for her. I may tell them this?"
"You may tell them anything you like."