There was such a look of horror in her eyes that even he was softened, and said quietly,—
'I will forgive you, Maud, freely forgive you; but you must never let Willie know, and he shall not see you.'
'Not even when I am dead?' she asked.
'No, not even then.'
She sobbed bitterly, and Sal, hearing her, felt the tears well up into her eyes.
'I never knew him to be cruel before,' said Sal to herself.
'One thing more,' said Jim Dennis. 'Who was the man?'
'Your friend, Jim. Your black-hearted, treacherous friend,' she answered.
'I had no friends,' he said.
'A man who called himself your friend. He was in Sydney. I met him. He was going to England, and offered to take me and spend his wealth with me, marry me when it was possible.'