“Mr. Ashton!” she exclaimed, indignantly widening the space between them as much as the seat would permit.
“Please!” he begged. “Don’t you understand? I am going away.”
“Yes.”
“But––why?”
“Because he is coming.”
“Mr. Blake?”
“Yes. I cannot stay after he––”
“But why not? Has he injured you? Are you afraid of him?”
“No. I’m afraid that you––” Ashton’s voice sank to a whisper––“that you will believe what he––what they will say against me.”