 maintained my composure—outwardly at least.  She entered, calm, pale, collected.

‘To what am I indebted for this favour, Mr. Markham?’ said she, with such severe but quiet dignity as almost disconcerted me; but I answered with a smile, and impudently enough,—

‘Well, I am come to hear your explanation.’

‘I told you I would not give it,’ said she.  ‘I said you were unworthy of my confidence.’

‘Oh, very well,’ replied I, moving to the door.

‘Stay a moment,’ said she.  ‘This is the last time I shall see you: don’t go just yet.’

I remained, awaiting her further commands.

‘Tell me,’ resumed she, ‘on what grounds you believe these things against me; who told you; and what did they say?’

I paused a moment.  She met my eye as unflinchingly as if her bosom had been steeled with conscious innocence.  She was resolved to know the worst, and determined to dare it too.  ‘I can crush that bold spirit,’ thought I.  But while I secretly exulted in my power, I felt disposed to dally with my victim like a cat.  Showing her the book that I still held, in my hand, and pointing to the name on the fly-leaf, but fixing my eye upon her face, I asked,—‘Do you know that gentleman?’

‘Of course I do,’ replied she; and a sudden flush suffused her features—whether of shame or anger I could not tell: it rather resembled the latter.  ‘What next, sir?’

‘How long is it since you saw him?’

‘Who gave you the right to catechize me on this or any other subject?’

‘Oh, no one!—it’s quite at your option whether to answer or not.  And now, let me ask—have you heard what has lately befallen this friend of yours?—because, if you have not—’

‘I will not be insulted, Mr. Markham!’ cried she, almost infuriated at my manner.  ‘So you had better leave the house at once, if you came only for that.’

‘I did not come to insult you: I came to hear your explanation.’

‘And I tell you I won’t give it!’ retorted she, pacing the room in a state of strong excitement, with her hands clasped tightly together, breathing short, and flashing fires of indignation from her eyes.  ‘I will not condescend to explain myself to one that can make a jest of such horrible suspicions, and be so easily led to entertain them.
