She fell back on her pillow.
"I will not let you see him," he said, "unless you keep calm. Don't agitate yourself. Shall I go on? Will you keep as quiet as possible? Now, I've got a great deal to say. Lie down—so. We must remember our present position, and what we owe to ourselves. Think of that. There are three of us concerned."
"Oh!" cried Molly. "Then you own it at last!"
"First, there is Lady Woodroffe. Exposure of this business will ruin that lady."
"She deserves to be ruined," said Molly.
"Because she has taken a poor child and brought it up in luxury? Let us not inflame the situation by hard words."
"I don't wish to be hard on her," said Alice. "But she said my baby-clothes were hers."
"Forgive her, Mrs. Haveril. We must all forgive. Before I leave you to-day I must take your forgiveness with me."
"Oh, Sir Robert!" said Molly. "She will forgive you too, if you restore her son."