What has my son done ?" She persisted just as obstinately on her side.
"You have had the only explanation which I think it necessary to give to you, or to him," she answered.
"In plain English, it's your sovereign will and pleasure, Miss Verinder, to jilt my son ?" Rachel was silent for a moment.

Sitting close behind her, I heard her sigh.

Mr.Bruff took her hand, and gave it a little squeeze.

She recovered herself, and answered Mr.Ablewhite as boldly as ever.
"I have exposed myself to worse misconstruction than that," she said.
"And I have borne it patiently.

The time has gone by, when you could mortify me by calling me a jilt." She spoke with a bitterness of tone which satisfied me that the scandal of the Moonstone had been in some way recalled to her mind.