"Are you afraid of him—of—Hector Woodridge?"
She shuddered.
"Yes," she said, "I am."
"Supposing he were here, in this carriage in my place?"
"I should fling myself out," she said. "I should be afraid of him; it would be terrible, awful. I could not bear it."
"Because you know you have wronged him. Do the right thing, Lenise. Confess, prove his innocence, think how he has suffered for your sake, how he has kept silent all these years," he said.
"Why do you torture me? If he has suffered, so have I. Do you think the knowledge of his awful position has not made me shudder every time I thought of it? I have pictured him there and wished I could obtain his release."
"You can prove his innocence," he said.
"Supposing I could, what then? What would happen? I should have to take his place."
"And you dare not."