Part 128 (2/2)
”Adela, did you think your good deed was going to recoil on you?” he said. ”Did you really think it was going to bring punishment on you? I don't believe things go like that even in this distracted, inexplicable old world.”
”Don't they? Mightn't they?”
”Surely not. You have saved that girl. You have paid back that scoundrel. And you have nothing to fear.”
”Why did you look at me like that when you came into the room?”
”But you are--”
”No. You haven't told me something. Tell me!”
”Be happy in the good result of your self-sacrifice, Adela.”
”I want you to tell me. There is something. I know there is.”
”Yes. But it only concerns me.”
”Seymour, I don't believe that!”
He was silent, looking at her with the old dog's eyes. But now there was something else in them besides faithfulness.
”Well, Adela,” he said at last, ”I believe very much in absolute sincerity between real friends. But I suppose friends.h.i.+p must be very real indeed to stand absolute sincerity. Don't you think so?”
”Yes, I do. But our friends.h.i.+p is as real as any friends.h.i.+p can be, I think.”
”Yes, but on my side it is mixed up, it has always been mixed up, with something else.”
”Yes, I know,” she said in a low voice.
”And besides I'm afraid, if I speak quite frankly, I shall hurt you, my dear!”
”Then--hurt me, Seymour!”
”Shall I? Can I do that?”
”Be frank with me. I have been very frank with you. I have told _you_.”
”Yes, indeed. You have been n.o.bly, gloriously frank. Well, then--that horrible fellow did say something which I haven't told you, something that, I confess it, has upset me.”
”What was it?” she said, still in the low voice, and bending her small head a little like one expecting punishment.
”He alluded to a friend of yours. He mentioned that nice boy I met here, young Craven?”
”Yes?”
”I really can't get what he said over my lips, Adela.”
”I know what he said. You needn't tell me.”
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